Muscle Hill goes for 13th straight from the rail in the Hambletonian

Muscle Hill has the rail for the Hambletonian

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Muscle Hill has the rail as the 3-5 favorite for the $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

A winner of 12 straight races, Muscle Hill faces nine rivals in the one-mile trotting classic for 3-year-olds. He lost his first race by a neck last year, and is undefeated since.

The winners of the three elimination heats last weekend selected the first three posts Tuesday for the richest event of the year in harness racing. The remaining seven were assigned by a blind draw.

In a shake among the three heat winners, Explosive Matter got the first choice and trainer Noel Daley selected post No. 2.

“No particular reason,” Daley said. “As long as I wasn’t getting the 7, 8, 9 or 10, I didn’t care.”

Explosive Matter is the 5-1 second choice with Ron Pierce set to drive.

Muscle Hill was next, and trainer Greg Peck took post No. 1.

“Where I grew up, the shortest distance between two points was the rail,” Peck said.

Brian Sears will drive the colt who powered to a 2¾-length victory in the eliminations, his fourth win of the season.

“He’s done everything pretty easy, everything we’ve asked off him all year” Sears said. “He just waits for me to call on him.”

Symphonic Hanover, the other elimination winner, got post No. 3 at 8-1 with David Miller at the lines.

The full Hambletonian field, in post position order, with drivers and odds: Muscle Hill, Sears, 3-5; Explosive Matter, Pierce, 5-1; Symphonic Hanover, Miller, 8-1; Hot Shot Blue Chip, Mike Lachance, 10-1; Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette, 15-1; Calchips Brute, John Campbell, 30-1; Reinsman Hanover, Tim Tetrick, 30-1; The Chancellor, Andy Miller, 30-1; Federal Flex, Jody Jamieson, 8-1 and Judge Joe, D.R. Ackerman, 15-1.

Also Saturday, the Meadowlands hosts the $783,042 Hambletonian Oaks, the companion event for fillies. Elusive Desire is the 5-2 favorite from the rail.