bella’s musclehill

Racing in the first Hambletonian elimination, 23-1 shot Bella’s Musclehill worked out a second-over trip behind winner Karl and finished in the runner-up spot. He was a length and a quarter behind Karl at the wire, timed in 1:50.4 and trotted his last quarter in 26.3.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Bella's Musclehill has two victories so far in 2024, both coming in overnight races at the Meadowlands in June, The second of his wins came in a life’s-best 1:52. As far as stakes engagements go, he was second and seventh in his New Jersey Sire Stakes legs and tenth in a Tompkins-Geers division.

trainer Nifty Norman: That was a nice surprise. I was a bit nervous because he made a break the week before (in the Tompkins-Geers on July 20) and you’re wondering if you’re doing the right thing even going in there (to the Hambletonian). But the horse raced great. I was really happy with him. I’ve always liked him, I just wasn’t sure he was at that level. This is the best of the best. I was proud of him. And it’s a good bunch of guys that own him, so good for them.

On making the break in previous race – He’s not a horse that wants to be on the front. He looks around too much. He’s too mentally immature to race there yet. He hasn’t had a lot of experience, but he’s getting there.

On not racing last year – He was just a big, raw horse. He needed time. He’s turned into a nice horse, he’s just green. It was a good run (in the elim). He’s just been getting better and better all the time. He was kind of hot, too; he’s a hard horse to get to relax. He’s very anxious. But he’s getting there.

We’re in the final. That’s all I wanted. Give us a chance. Anything can happen. We’ve seen it before.