Harness: Somebeachsomewhere sons prosper while Muscle Hill waits for his signature colt

Somebeachsomewhere, the unlikely superstar, like Meadow Skipper before him, seems to be shaping the pacing breed in his own image given the siring performance of his sons thus far. Now the question becomes: Will Muscle Hill do likewise?

Somebeachsomewhere and Muscle Hill are somewhat unique being considered the epitome of their specific gaits and generations. Unlike previous superstars, both have maintained their respective lofty rankings as stallions.

It is recalled how Adios Butler, Overtrick, Bret Hanover, Niatross and Nihilator were considered the ultimate of their eras, though not one of those maintained that pinnacle as a stallion. Conversely, Speedy Scot, Nevele Pride, Mack Lobell and Self Possessed preceded Muscle Hill as superstar trotters, though none maintained those abilities in the stud barn.

Of course, Mack Lobell, given his infertility, gets a pass, while Speedy Scot and Self Possessed each left one son in the presence of Speedy Crown and Cantab Hall to extend their legacies. Both 'Crown' and 'Cantab' filled in admirably.

Somebeachsomewhere can be considered an unlikely super candidate given his modest Mach Three-Where's The Beach pedigree. Meadow Skipper's dam Countess Vivian was surreptitiously switched from then super-sire Adios to the modest Dale Frost when Adios nearly foundered and couldn't breed.

According to legend, Del Miller made the change without informing Countess Vivian's owners until after it was done and in fact instructed Meadow Skipper to be gelded late in his 2-year-old season at Hollywood Park. Fortunately to his and the pacing breed's immense relief, he relented after the colt set a season's mark in his final start in response to some frustrated and vigorous whipping by catch-driver Joe Lighthill.

Somebeachsomewhere was purchased for $40,000 in Lexington by Brent MacGrath and Schooner Sables as a potential Ontario Sires Stakes candidate in what was, according to Brent, his final bid. Somebeachsomewhere established himself as one of, if not the greatest, pacer of all time in a brilliant two-year campaign that saw him suffer but one loss to Art Official in the Meadowlands Pace, a race most still consider the best of this new millennium.

As did Meadow Skipper with his first-crop son Most Happy Fella, Somebeachsomewhere immediately offered Captaintreacherous in a brilliant first crop that also included Sunshine Beach and other stars.

Similar to Most Happy Fella, with his first crop comprising Silk Stockings and Tarport Hap, Captaintreacherous was a huge success with his initial crop headed by Captain Crunch and many others. In his second crop, 'The Captain' offered the still undefeated Party Girl Hill, who is in the argument of "greatest fillies of all time".

As some have indicated, Most Happy Fella not only extended but expanded the Meadow Skipper line into two distinct branches. It remains to be seen just how Captaintreacherous will eventually fare in that area, although he's off to a sensational start.

Meanwhile, other sons of Somebeachsomewhere, namely Sunshine Beach, So Surreal, Net Ten EOM, have shown well in their initial attempts at stud. Judging from the yearling prices attracted by Huntsville and Downbytheseaside at this year's sales thus far, the industry expects these Somebeachsomewhere sons to follow suit as well.

Then there's the brilliant Papi Rob Hanover in the discussion as Somebeachsomewhere's potentially best son.

While it's impossible to forecast the future, it does appear that Somebeachsomewhere and sons will have something to say about the direction the pacing breed is likely to take in the decades to come.

As for Muscle Hill, Trixton, his first major son to hit the stud, has started off well but does not appear of line-extender caliber as of this writing. Other potential stallion sons include Tactical Landing, Southwind Frank, E L Titan, Bar Hopping and What The Hill. Of those, Tactical Landing, the full brother to Mission Brief, will get his chance at Southwind Farms after being resurrected by Jimmy Takter and beating his elders in the 2018 TVG. Tactical Landing's first foals will reach the auction sales in 2021.

Southwind Frank, the freshman trotting champ of 2015, and Bar Hopping saw their first crops make the races in 2020. Both have shown quite well, though neither has indicated he might be of the caliber of a successor son as of this writing. Bar Hopping has a Breeders Crown candidate in son In Range while Southwind Frank's daughter Flawless Control was the Pennsylvania sire stakes filly leader this year.

E L Titan has been around a couple of years and he too gets his share of decent performers, but also has not suggested that he's a sire in his father's like.

What The Hill, the Dan Patch 3-year-old champion of 2017 remembered for his Hambletonian disqualification and TVG redemption, will send his initial Ohio-sired crop to the races in 2021.

Thus at present Muscle Hill seems to be emulating other superstar trotting stallions in the area of successor sons, though that could change as other sons will get their chances. In that his best may still be yet to come, as he himself came along later in his sire Mucles Yankee's life, the jury will remain out for the foreseeable future.

Somebeachsomewhere on the other hand seems entrenched as a breed shaper given the impressive showing of extender son Captaintreacherous.

Stay tuned.