Muscle Hill draws post five in American National

Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill has drawn post five in Saturday’s $200,000 American National for 3-year-old colt trotters at Balmoral Park, with the $17,000 supplemental entry taking on nine challengers including Illinois champion Southern Rocketop, who will leave from post one.

 

Muscle Hill’s last pari-mutuel start was his world record-equaling 1:50.1 victory in the $1.5 million Hambletonian Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands. Brian Sears has once again been named to drive the son of Muscles Yankee by trainer Greg Peck. Overall, Muscle Hill has won all five of his starts this year and has an overall 13-race winning streak. He has been installed the 6-5 morning line choice.

 

As for Southern Rocketop, the son of Psychic Spirit has shown an affinity to the Balmoral oval as he has won 10 of 12 starts at the Crete racetrack, including a track-record 1:52.2 effort. He is coming off a 1:54.4 victory over a “good” racetrack at Springfield Aug. 19 in the Illinois State Fair Championship. Trainer Robert Taylor will have Dave Magee in the sulky.

PP Horse (named driver)

 

1 Southern Rocketop (Dave Magee)

2 Cruisealong (Peter Wrenn)

3 Dashing Earl (Dave Magee)

4 Dr. McDreamy (Homer Hochstetler)

5 Muscle Hill (Brian Sears)

6 The Chancellor (Brandon Simpson)

7 Winning Mister (TBA)

8 Magic Carpet Ride (Peter Wrenn)

9 Mr. Cantab (Marcus Miller)

10 Southwind Tagar (Dale Hiteman)