In Range dominant at The Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – In Range finished sixth in his Hambletonian elimination last week, failing to qualify for the $1-million final. He took that frustration out on his foes in the $50,000 Muscle Hill for 3-year-old harness racing colts and geldings on the trot in the Friday night feature at The Meadowlands.

The colt by Bar Hopping-Ilia left alertly from post five in the eight-horse field and hit the quarter in a quick :27. Driver Tim Tetrick was then allowed to rate the second fraction in :29, leaving the 1-9 favorite plenty in the tank, as he trotted his back half in :55.4 to report home an easy 3-length winner in a lifetime-best 1:51.4 for trainer Marcus Melander. Zenith Stride was second with Goodashim third.

After recording his second win and sixth on-the-board finish in eight starts this year, In Range lifted his seasonal bank account to $123,044. Lifetime, he’s earned $534,047.

“It didn’t work out for him last week,” said Tetrick. “I had the best horse tonight, so I wanted to race him [on the lead]. It was a good effort for him. He’s a little lazy. He likes t

o look at butterflies. You have to yell at him to keep his attention, but when you ask him, he’ll do it.”

In Range paid $2.10 to his backers.

IN RANGE REPLAY

Another impressive winner guided by Tetrick – who had three on the card – was Misswalner Fashion (Walner-Sweet Love), who took the lead at the half and cruised from there to take a $40,000 division of the Garden State for 2-year-old trotting fillies by 1¾ lengths in 1:54.4.

“She’s very talented and has a lot of high speed,” said Tetrick. “When Dexter’s [Dunn, driving 6-5 second choice Lilbitalexis] horse broke, it changed my outlook on the race. After I got away third, I thought it was a good time to try her on the lead. I think she could have done whatever I wanted her to. Down the lane she was like, ‘Don’t worry Tim, I got this’.”

Trained by Jim Campbell, Misswalner Fashion stayed perfect in two career starts and paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 public choice.

A LITTLE MORE: All-source handle totaled $2,525,470. … The final day of The Championship Meeting is Saturday, Aug. 7, when a blockbuster 16-race, stakes-laden Hambletonian Day card gets underway at noon. Gates open at 10 a.m.

Post time for the Hambletonian is 6:12 p.m. If you can’t make it to the track, catch all the action on the CBS Sports Network from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or on Fox Sports 2 shortly before the Hambletonian starters head to the gate.

For full race results, click here.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands