Upset in Historic-Dickerson

Longshot Johnny Muscles nipped RC Royalty at the wire to win the $90,900 Historic-Dickerson Cup, the first race on Friday night at the Meadowlands, and marked himself as a contender for the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 5.

Johnny Muscles, sent off at odds of 50-1, returned $104.60. The 3-year-old son of Muscles Yankee trotted the mile in a lifetime best of 1:54.4

It was a head back to RC Royalty, who cut the mile, and 1 1/4 lengths to Ira K in third. All nine of the starters in the Dickerson Cup are eligible for the Hambletonian, the nation’s premier event for three-year-old trotters that is held at the Meadowlands on the first Saturday in August.

Johnny Muscles, trained and driven by Jan Johnson, picked up his first win of the year in his fourth try. Lifetime, he has three wins and four thirds from 13 starts and earnings of $86,140.

“He raced very good,” said Johnson. “He showed a lot of speed, but he can’t keep his mind together. I know the horse well; it’s my horse. He’s a good horse and has a lot of speed. The thing is to get him to pay attention to what he’s doing. He’s like a big kid.”

His next start will be the July 7 elims for the Stanley Dancer Memorial Trot.

A $100,000 yearling purchased at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he is owned by Arden Homestead Stable of Delhi, New York; Tomas D. Bertmark of Malmo, Sweden and Atos Lombardini of Forli, Italy.

A pair of stakes for 3-year-old fillies shared the card with the Dickerson.

In the $68,500 Ladyship for pacing fillies, Pacific Philly, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Timothy Torbert, drew off to a 5 1/4-length victory over Mattios. Art’s Temptress, after breaking at the start, rallied for third, 6 1/4 lengths back.

The non-wagering event, contested before the betting card, was timed in 1:53.1 for the mile.

Pacific Philly, a daughter of Pacific Fella, is owned by her breeder, Robert Messick of Milford, Delaware. She has six wins, four seconds and three thirds from 18 starts this year and a lifetime bankroll of $191,256.

Tresokay won the $87,900 Coaching Club Trotting Oaks for trotting fillies, the third race, which took place after heavy showers turned the track sloppy.

Tresokay, driven and trained by Dewayne Minor, trotted the mile in 1:58.3 for her second straight victory. She also won the Currier & Ives Final at the Meadows on June 24.

Celebrity Sweedie was second and Miss Elenora was third.

“We bought her as a yearling for $40,000 in Kentucky,” Minor said. “I picked her out for her pedigree and her overall look. She didn’t stand the best up front, but her body conformation was nice. She has big hindquarters, and she had that attitude, you know what I mean? She’s only had 12 career starts [coming into the Coaching Club Oaks] so there’s plenty of upside potential.”

It was the third win in 13 career starts for the daughter of Self Possessed who races for Cowboyland Aalborg of Highland Park, Michigan.

(Meadowlands release)

« Back