Muscleman gearing up in Fla.

Mr. Muscleman made what could be termed a “brief” appearance in 2006, making just seven starts, and co-owner Adam Victor Jr. said Friday afternoon that he expects big things from the two-time Dan Patch Award winner.

“The year went exactly as we wanted it to: seven races, we didn’t test the horse at all…and he still was no worse than third,” Victor told harnessracing.com Friday afternoon by cell phone from Philadelphia about the $3.3 million-winning Mr. Muscleman. “He’ll come back nice and sound hopefully, and then show everybody what he can do. We plan to put the pedal to the metal this year.”

Mr. Muscleman’s seven-start campaign last year lasted from late September through late November, with his lone win coming in an Open Trot at Woodbine. His biggest finishes were thirds in both the Classic Series final and Allerage Farm Series final.

Victor said Mr. Muscleman is winter training at Noel Daley’s barn at Spring Garden Ranch in Florida, and that the now 7-year-old son of Muscles Yankee is virtually ready to return to the racetrack.

“Muscleman is literally acting like a 2 year old down there. We have had him in this constant, perpetual state of being ready to race,” he said. “He is always just a month away from qualifying. But you won’t see him before the Su Mac Lad (Series, which begins March 25 at the Meadowlands), which could possibly be his first race back.”

Victor added he and his father, Adam Sr., are also strongly considering a European campaign for Mr. Muscleman, who won Older Trotter of the Year honors in 2004 and 2005.

“We’ll let things materialize and go from there,” he said. “Noel (trainer Daley) will tell us what he wants to do. Noel has some big races on the radar that we think (Mr. Muscleman) is as prepared for as good as ever. It’s more of just getting a campaign down that attacks the races that we want to win overseas, and the few left that we haven’t had success yet in the States.”

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