Georgian Downs: Track records toppled in trotting stakes

Lookslikeachpndale put forth a 1:51 3/5 performance to break the all-age track record at Georgian Downs in Saturday night's C$100,000 Honourable Earl Rowe Memorial for open trotters. The mark for 3-year-old colt trotters also went by the wayside when Muscle Hustle stopped the clock in 1:52 2/5 in one of two C$105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series events.

In the Rowe, Muscle Up The Goal (Alfie Carroll) charged out of the gate to overcome his outside post nine starting position, and he would reach the opening quarter in 26 3/5. Lookslikeachpndale (Paul MacDonell) had gotten away in fourth from post one, but he was sent on the attack as they raced in the frontstretch the first time, and he would take over the lead at the 55 3/5 half.

Charmed Life (James MacDonald), the only mare in the field, tracked Lookslikeachpndale's bid, and then engaged him in the backstretch. They would match strides at the 1:23 three-quarters and into the stretch, but Lookslikeachpndale finally put her away at that point and trotted away to win by a length and three-quarters. Charmed Life did hold on for second over favored Il Sogno Dream (Trevor Henry).

The 1:51 3/5 clocking topped the previous track record of 1:52 that had belonged to Daylon Magician since 2012.

A 4-year-old son of Muscle Hill, Lookslikeachpndale is trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination. It was the horse's 10th win from 28 lifetime attempts, and he has now earned C$256,488. Sent off at 7-2, he paid $8.40 to win.

Two races prior to the Rowe, Muscle Hustle (Chris Christoforou) had earned the track record for a 3-year-old colt trotter, stepping through stations of 27, 55 4/5, and 1:23 3/5 on his way to the victory by a head over Warrawee Roo (MacDonald). Dia Monde (Tom Durand) checked in third.

Muscle Hustle's 1:52 2/5 performance obliterated the prior mark of 1:53 4/5 that had been set by B Strike Three in June 2008.

Per Henriksen trains Muscle Hustle, a colt by Muscle Mass, for owner Ecurie Bergh Inc. Muscle Hustle won for the seventh time from 13 career starts, and he has now put away C$184,010. A 9-2 shot, Muscle Hustle returned $11.80.

Christoforou and Henriksen also won the other Ontario Sires Stakes section with Bee In Charge, a half-brother to Bee A Magician. He cleared just past the 29 second opening panel, and after clicking off a half in 57 4/5 and a three-quarters in 1:26 2/5, he came home in 28 1/5 to score in 1:54 3/5. Tony Soprano (Steve Condren) finished second, a length and a half behind the winner, and Sass (MacDonald) came in third.

Mel Hartman and David McDuffee own Bee In Charge, a gelded son of Manofmanymissions. After going winless in two trips behind the gate last year, he is five-for-ten this year with C$153,940 banked. The 8-5 second choice, Bee In Charge paid $5.30 to win.