Muscle Mass sires the two fastest 3YO trotters of all time
In an incredible evening for the stallion Muscle Mass, the Ake Svanstedt trained pair, Plunge Blue Chip and Six Pack, rewrote the record books to become the fastest 3YO trotting filly and colt of all time, in two sensational performances in their Del Miller Memorial and Stanley Dancer Memorial divisions at The Meadowlands on July 14.
Leading Hambletonian contender Six Pack underlined his credentials for the upcoming $1.2 million blue riband feature, with a huge performance in the second of the $181,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial divisions for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
The Empire Breeders Classic winner burned off the gate from barrier eight and was left parked in a sizzling opening quarter of 26.4 before taking cover in third through the second quarter. Moving up to sit parked outside the leader at the half-way mark, the giant colt wrestled the lead off the pace-making Alarm Detector by the three-quarter mark, before storming clear with a 27.4 closing split to score by two and a quarter lengths in 1:50 flat. (Watch race)
His time lowered the previous mark for a 3-year-old trotting colt, held jointly by the great Muscle Hill and Donato Hanover (incidentally, both of whom won their respective Hambletonian Finals) by one fifth of a second.
The win was Six Pack's ninth from just 14 race-day starts and boosted his career earnings to $557,840.
As breath-taking as Six Pack's world record performance was, unbelievably Plunge Blue Chip (pictured) would go even quicker a few races later in the second of the $128,500 Del Miller Memorial divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies.
Fourth at the half-way mark, Plunge Blue Chip moved up to sit parked outside the race favourite Manchego, who was setting a strong tempo in front. Rounding the home turn Plunge Blue Chip started to wear the leader down and in a driving finish to the line, got the upper-hand to win by a nose in a stunning 1:49.8. (Watch race)
Plunge Blue Chip's time, not only bettered the world record for 3-year-old trotting fillies (previously 1:50.4) but also the overall 3-year-old trotters record set by Six Pack a few races earlier, and in doing so she became the first 3-year-old trotter ever to break the 1:50 mark.
Her time also equalled the fastest trotting mile in Meadowlands history - set by JL Cruze in 2015.
Last but not least, Plunge Blue Chip, also became the first filly to defeat the 2017 US 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year Manchego.
Plunge Blue Chip has now won 12 of her 15 lifetime starts and $562,809 in stakes-money.