Dancinginthedark M looked to be a lock in the $50,000 Muscle Hill Trot after not qualifying for the main event on the Hambletonian Day card in his Hambletonian elim one week ago. Jujubee shocked the crowd with a track record performance to upset the favourite.
Tony Hall had Jujubee strongly off the gate, looking for a pocket ride behind the favoured Dancinginthedark M (Tim Tetrick) after a :27.1 opening quarter. Dancinginthedark M maintained his lead through an honest middle half with fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.1. Turning for home, Dancinginthedark M looked to edge away but Hall took his shot with the 7/2 Jujubee and started to gain on the tempo-setter. In deep stretch, Dancinginthedark M broke stride as Jujubee got to the leader and that left Jujubee all alone at the wire in a track record 1:49.4. Dancinginthedark M was left up in second with Ethan T Hanover (Dexter Dunn) completing the triactor.
A star in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes before his breakout performance on Hambletonian Day, Jujubee (Creatine - La Cantera) picked up his 10th win in 13 starts this season for trainer Greg Wright Jr. and owner Jon Erdner of Lakewood Ranch, Fl. The win time was a new lifetime mark, dropping his previous best by more than three seconds in his first start over the one-mile oval and eclipsed the 1:50 track standard set by Six Pack in 2018. Jujubee's earnings are now $173,607 with his lifetime summary an impressive 12-4-1 from 18 career starts.
The Muscle Hill is part of a stakes-packed card of harness racing on Hambletonian Day. Be sure to check out the 2021 Hambletonian Day News Centre for recaps and replays of all the action.