Monti posts
another driving triple
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (January 13, 2017) – Royally-bred
Muscle Diamond justified his heavy favoritism to win the $18,000 trotting
feature by two lengths on Friday night at the Meadowlands.
The entire complexion of the race changed before it began
when morning line favorite Crosbys Clam Bake was scratched sick. That left
Muscle Diamond to inherit the favorite’s role at 3-5 after futilely chasing
Crosbys Clam Bake last week.
John Campbell put the 5-year-old son of Muscle Hill –
Windylane Hanover, by Lindy Lane on the front end through easy fractions of
29.1 and 57 for the first half before hitting three-quarters in 1:26 and
kicking home in 28.3 to complete the mile in 1:54.3. Opulent Yankee chased all
the way to be second with Anaffairtoremember rounding out the trifecta.
“He was good enough tonight, but not as strong finishing as
I had hoped he would be,” said Campbell.
Muscle Diamond finished second in the Breeders Crown at two
and third in the Breeders Crown at three before being sidelined for 13 months.
“He has matured physically and has filled out,” said
Campbell. “He is taller and stronger. He was always good mentally when he was 2
and 3. He’s being raced this winter so Brett can get a gauge on where to stake
him this summer.”
Brett Bittle trains Muscle Diamond and shares ownership of
the eight-time winner of $634,199 with Charles Keller III, Charles Keller IV,
and Dan Bittle.
For the second Friday in a row, Meadowlands newcomer Drew
Monti scored a driving triple including $65.20 winner It’s Chocolate Time in
race 12.
Total handle on the 13-race program was $3,070,537, up one
percent over the corresponding date last year when 14 races were conducted.
Marcello Spano and Nicolas Roussel each scored their first
Meadowlands driving wins.
Live racing continues Saturday night with a 13-race program
beginning at 7:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.playmeadowlands.com.
