Harness: Muscles Yankee retires from stallion duty

Winbak Farm of New York, in conjunction with Perretti Farms, announces the retirement of legendary trotting stallion, Muscles Yankee.

Muscles Yankee, 2, 1:56 3/5; 3, 1:52 2/5 ($1,424,938), was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2009. He was inducted as both an outstanding racehorse and a stand-out stallion.

Muscles Yankee was born at Yankeeland Farms, Inc. (of Frederick, Maryland) in 1995.

Muscles Yankee was trained by Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester during his career and driven by Hall of Famer John Campbell.

“He was a dominant horse in his two years of racing,” said Chuck Sylvester, trainer. “He had a foot that bothered him some but when it didn’t, they couldn’t beat him.”

At 2, Muscles Yankee won the Bluegrass, Breeders Crown elimination, Champlain, International Stallion Stake, Standardbred elimination and Valley Victory elimination. He won 6 of 9 starts and equaled the two-year-old record of 1:56.3 in his Valley Victory elimination.

“He was a pleasure to deal with training and racing. He did everything you wanted,” said Sylvester.

At 3, Muscles Yankee won the Beacon Course elimination and Final, Bluegrass, Breeders Crown elimination and Final, Yonkers Trot and Hambletonian elimination and Final. His Hambletonian winning time of 1:52 2/5 was the fastest record of a 3-year-old trotter in 1998. For his winning efforts, Muscles Yankee was awarded the USHWA 3-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year award. With $1.25 Million earned, he was the richest performer of that year.

Once retired from racing, Muscles Yankee went on to a productive stud career at both Perretti Farms in New Jersey and Winbak Farm of New York. To date, he has sired 1,474 registered foals.

“He was a good size horse that went on to be a good producer,” said Sylvester. “He was definitely a pleasure to have.”

He is the sire of 12 Millionaires, including:

Mr Muscleman, 1:51 1/5s ($3,582,823)

2009 US Horse of the Year, Muscle Hill, 3, 1:50 1/5 ($3,273,342)

Deweycheatumnhowe, 3, 1:50 4/5 ($3,155,178)

Strong Yankee, 3, 1:50 3/5 ($1,434,351)

Costa Rica, 3, 1:54 3/5s ($1,394,757)

Neighsay Hanover, 1:52 2/5f ($1,276,548)

Muscle Massive, 3, 1:51 ($1,239,138)

Little Brown Fox, 3, 1:51 2/5 ($1,192,403)

Housethatruthbuilt, 3, 1:52 4/5 ($1,164,931)

Looking Hanover, 1:53 2/5f ($1,125,136)

Muscles Marinara, 1:52 1/5 ($1,057,700)

Blur, 3, 1:55 1/5s ($1,022,268)

Sons of Muscles Yankee won the Hambletonian 3 years in a row from 2008 through 2010. His offspring have earned over $98 Million.

His impact is also being felt as an impressive broodmare sire and sire of sires.

Muscles Yankee will be returning to his home at Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge, New Jersey for his retirement.

“It was a great honor to work with such an outstanding sire,” said Noelle Duspiva, Winbak of New York Manager. “He will be missed here at the farm, but his retirement is well deserved at the age of 25.”

-edited release (Winbak Farm)