Muscular upsets Tweedle Dum

A first-over move and a grueling stretch duel with track record holder Tweedle Dum could not prevent Muscular from taking the Friday feature from Pompano Park, a $10,000 Open Handicap Trot, for owner, trainer, and driver Dave Mercer of Springfield, Il.

Starting from post four, Muscular settled along the rail in third place while the 1-5 post-time favorite Tweedle Dum (Walter Ross, Jr.) worked to establish the lead from post seven. The gelding cleared the front on the first turn and took the field through an opening quarter mile in :28, while Battleshoe Victor (Wally Hennessey) trotted in second, tracking the leader along the inside.

After catching a second-panel breather in :30 to post a half-mile split in :58, Tweedle Dum continued on the lead into the final turn while passing the three-quarter mile marker in 1:27. With U Toe the Bike (Bruce Ranger) looking to angle off the pylons from fourth, Musuclar was flushed out and began moving up first-over as the field made the turn and straightened out for the final drive.

With the finish line in his sights, Muscular continued to gain ground on the outside while Tweedle Dum saw his lead rapidly diminish. The pair matched strides in deep stretch with Muscular wearing down Tweedle Dum in the final yards to prevail by a head in 1:55.3. It was 2 3/4 lengths back to Battleshoe Victor who crossed the wire third.

The victory marked the second trip to the winner’s circle in three starts for Muscular, a 7-year-old son of Muscles Yankee, out of the Power Seat mare Must B Heavenly.

In the evening’s co-feature, a $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Maresey Doats notched her second consecutive win of the year, scoring in 1:53.4 to tie her lifetime mark.

Driven by Wally Hennessey, Maresey Doats made a sweeping move on the first turn to clear the front and the 5-year-old daughter of Towner’s Big Guy did not relinquish her position throughout, taking the field through fractions of :27.4, :56.2, and 1:25.

Golden Falcon N (David Ingraham) moved up the rail to apply pressure on the leader late but could do no better than second, coming up a neck shy at the wire. All About Maggie (Matthew Kakaley) closed well on the outside to grab the show spot, one-half length shy of the winner.

Maresey Doats is owned by White Creek Stable of Dublin, Ohio, and is trained by Dan Hennessey.

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