Meadowlands: Svanstedt brings out the broom in Graduate Series action

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt guided his charges Six Pack and Muscle M Up to glory in the pair of $50,000 divisions of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The complexion of the first split changed dramatically with the sick scratch of last year's Hambletonian champion Atlanta. That left the door open for Six Pack, harness racing's fastest 3-year-old trotter of all-time, and he would steal the race. Svanstedt put Six Pack on the lead at the 27 2/5 opening quarter, and then he was able to back down the middle-half to just 58 and 1:26 4/5, leaving him more than enough in the tank to repel pocket-sitter and favorite Fiftydallarbill (Tim Tetrick) for the half-length decision in 1:53 1/5. Eurobond (Andrew McCarthy) collected third.

A son of Muscle Mass, Six Pack is also owned by Svanstedt along with Little E-Knutssontrotting, Stall Kalmar Inc., and L Berg Inc. Six Pack made his 16th appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now earned $1,383,290. The second choice in the race, Six Pack paid $4.40 to win.

The other Graduate tilt saw Muscle M Up and Svanstedt lead on the first turn, but Mission Accepted (Yannick Gingras) pressed on to get the lead past the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Mission Accepted also was able to get away with a soft pace, hitting the half in 56 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25, but a first-over Crystal Fashion, a pylon-skimming Custom Cantab (Marcus Miller), and an angling-widest Muscle M Up all charged at him in the lane, and it would be Muscle M Up coming through with the best kick, getting up to prevail by half a length in 1:51 2/5. Crystal Fashion was second and Mission Accepted third.

Muscle M Up, by Muscle Hill, is owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc. Muscle M Up is now a seven-time winner in his life and is three-for-three in the win column this season, and he has banked $87,972. A 7-1 shot, Muscle M Up returned $17.60 to win.

There were also single $35,000 divisions of the second round of the Rainbow Blue Series for pacing mares and the Mr. Muscleman Series for open trotters on the card.

Caviart Ally (McCarthy) ripped out of the pocket behind Kissin In The Sand (Scott Zeron) in upper stretch, came on to get the lead, and held safe by a head over a charging Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) to win the Rainbow Blue round in 1:49 2/5. Dont Think Twice (Corey Callahan) got up for third as Kissin In The Sand faded back to fourth.

It was career win number 18 for Caviart Ally, a 5-year-old millionaire Bettor's Delight mare trained by Brett Pelling for owner Caviart Farms. Caviart Ally paid $5.20 to win.

In the Mr. Muscleman, 3-5 choice Trolley (M. Miller) waltzed through panels of 27 4/5, 56 2/5, and 1:25 1/5, then out-sprinted the horses behind him in the lane to win by a length in 1:52 1/5. Pinkman (Gingras) and New Heaven (Eric Abbatiello) rounded out the top three.

Trolley, a 6-year-old Donato Hanover stallion, is trained by Erv Miller for the ownership group of Michael Anderson, Leland Mathias, Greg Gillis, and Lou Willinger. Trolley, who recently went over the $400,000 mark in life's earnings, returned $3.40 to win.