EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --- August 4, 2018 - Muscle Diamond got a second-over
trip behind Gural Hanover around the final turn before surging to the lead in
the stretch to win Saturday’s $30,000 Vincennes open trot by a neck over Satin
Dancer in 1:51 over track labeled sloppy because of morning rain at the
Meadowlands.
Lagerfeld was third.
Muscle Diamond, who raced
without shoes, was fifth through the first half of the race before making his
move with driver Andy McCarthy following a battle up front between Gural
Hanover and favorite Obrigado.
“There were some nice horses
in there,” winning trainer Brett Bittle said. “I’ve never pulled his front
shoes off, and I was worried about the track today doing it. I’ve pulled his
back shoes off quite often and it’s seemed to agree with him. I know he won
today but it didn’t look like it really agreed with him. I didn’t think he was
gaited that great, but he got it done.”
Muscle Diamond is a
6-year-old stallion owned by Charles Keller III, Charles Keller IV, Dan Bittle
and Brett Bittle. The son of Muscle Hill-Windylane Hanover has won 14 of 46
races and $720,099 in his career.
Obrigado, a former Dan Patch
Award-winner, finished fourth. Pinkman, the 2015 Hambletonian winner, was
fifth.
Muscle Diamond paid $6.00, $3.80 and $2.80. Satin Dancer returned $13.80 and
$6.60. Lagerfeld paid $3.40.
