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Fifty Cent Piece tops opening session of Standardbred Horse Sale with $500,000 bid

November 6, 2018

Harrisburg, PA--- Bidders were active at Monday’s (Nov. 5) opening session of the Standardbred Horse Sale from beginning to end, resulting in a 24.2 percent increase in the average purchase price compared to the first day in 2017. A total of 170 yearlings sold for a gross of $15.9 million and average of $93,541, up from $75,305 last year.

Eight horses sold for at least $300,000 led by Muscle Hill-sired trotting filly Fifty Cent Piece, who was acquired for $500,000 by Lennart Agren’s SRF Stables.

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$500,000 Breeders Crown to Tactical Landing

October 28, 2018

Wilkes-Barre, PA--- The track at Mohegan Sun Pocono may have been sloppy but the effort from Tactical Landing was pretty neat as he took the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Trot in a speedy 1:52.1.

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Green Manalishi S a green machine in Wellwood romp

September 15, 2018

Milton, ON--- Trainer Marcus Melander admitted he was a bit nervous before the start of the C$400,000 William Wellwood Memorial on Saturday night (Sept. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. As it turned out, he didn’t need to be. In the seconds leading up to Canada’s richest race for 2-year-old trotters, Melander, who conditions top flight trotter Green Manalishi S, admitted he was battling butterflies before the field of 10 got underway. A three length triumph, timed in a career best 1:53.4, changed that trepidation to pure elation.

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The Ice Dutchess captures Peaceful Way final

September 15, 2018

Milton, ON--- Even money betting favorite The Ice Dutchess made every step a sure one on her way to victory in the C$385,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday evening (Sept. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Jimmy Takter trainee won in 1:54.2, three open lengths ahead of her nearest rival, Evident Beauty (David Miller, 4/1). Angies Luckeylady (Trevor Henry), a 51/1 longshot, was a distant third.

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Sports Column Prevails In Preferred

September 2, 2018

Sports Column and driver Paul MacKenzie shot through the passing lane to prevail in a close finish that saw the entire Preferred 2 field spread across the wire in Sunday night's featured $11,500 pace at Flamboro Downs.

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Jimmy Freight sets track record in Messenger elim

August 26, 2018

Yonkers, NY--- Saturday, August 25, 2018- Owner Adriano Sorella paid $30,000 for the privilege of Jimmy Freight entering the 63rd Messenger Stakes.

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Manchego defeats Atlanta in Casual Breeze showdown

August 24, 2018

Milton, ON--- Hambletonian Oaks champion Manchego delivered a stunning 1:51.4 stakes record performance to defeat Hambletonian champion Atlanta in Friday’s $136,000 Casual Breeze at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The superstar fillies were squaring off for the first time in 2018 and went off as co-favourites at odds of 4/5 in a field of 10.

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Southwind Storm sweeps PA Stallion Series prelims

August 15, 2018

Wilkes-Barre, PA --- Southwind Storm thundered through her Pennsylvania Stallion Series’ four preliminary legs undefeated, as the Muscle Hill–Say What filly won one of the seven 2-year-old trotting filly divisions over sloppy going Tuesday (Aug. 14) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

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Muscle Hill yearlings again in high demand in Sweden

August 14, 2018

At the annual Sweden International Yearling Sale, held Monday (Aug. 13) at the Wenngarn Castle outside Stockholm, offspring to Muscle Hill were again in high demand.

Some 16 yearlings were sold for an average price of $72,600.

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Dream Together upsets in Joie De Vie

August 12, 2018

Nichols, NY --- Dream Together ($29.60) charged late to upset in the $141,000 Joie De Vie Mares Trot at Tioga Downs on Sunday (Aug. 12).

Ariana G (Tim Tetrick) put up the first quarter time of :26.4. Yannick Gingras then charged out from third with big favorite Hannelore Hanover, but she had to use a little extra effort to clear to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.1.

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Southwind Storm wins third straight PA Stallion Series split

August 6, 2018

Washington, PA --- Southwind Storm captured her third straight Pennsylvania Stallion Series split Monday (Aug. 6) at The Meadows, a facile victory in which she never was cut loose.

The $100,000 stakes for freshman trotting fillies was contested over five divisions, with Navarone Hanover, Sand Lauren Blu, Lollypop Lindy and Cardinale taking the other splits. Dave Palone enjoyed a stakes double — among his three wins on the 13-race card — behind Southwind Storm and Navarone Hanover.

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Crystal Fashion, Tactical Landing win Hambo elims

August 4, 2018

Filly Atlanta set the fractions, but it was Crystal Fashion and Tim Tetrick that reached the wire first in the initial $100,000 Hambletonian elimination Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands. The Cantab Hall-Window Willow gelding stopped the timer in a world record 1:50.1, getting up in the final strides over the tiring filly. Met’s Hall rounded out the trifecta, and Evaluate and Hat Trick Habit finished fourth and fifth to advance to the $1,000,000 final. Favorite Wolfgang finished sixth.

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Marion Marauder closes late for Cashman win

August 4, 2018

Hambletonian champ Marion Marauder swung from the pylons and overtook Will Take Charge and favorite Hannelore Hanover late in the lane to capture the $286,650 John Cashman Memorial for free-for-all trotters Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands. The five-year-old son of Muscle Hill used a late burst of speed to hit the wire first in the 1 1/8 miles contest, tripping the timer in 2:06. Will Take Charge was second and Hannelore Hanover third.

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The Ice Dutchess crowned in James Doherty

August 4, 2018

The team of Jimmy and Johnny Takter connected for their second win on the Hambletonian Day card, capturing the $357,450 James Doherty Memorial for freshman trotting fillies with The Ice Dutchess Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands. The Muscle Hill-The Ice Queen filly trotted to a 1:53.4 victory. Favored Beautiful Sin raced second and Hanna Dreamgirl was third.
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Don't Let'Em takes Haughton in record time

August 4, 2018

Don’t Let’Em and Yannick Gingras set a new track and stakes record on their way to handily winning the $422,350 Peter Haughton Memorial for freshman colt and gelding trotters at the Meadowlands Saturday, August 4. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the Muscle Hill-Passageway colt took control early and stopped the clock in the day’s fourth race in a time of 1:51.4. Green Manalishi S trotted second while Mass Fortune K finished third.

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Muscle Diamond barefoot winner in Vincennes

August 4, 2018

Racing at the Meadowlands got off to a fast start Saturday, August 4 when Muscle Diamond opened the Hambletonian Day card with a 1:51 victory in the $30,000 Vincennes for open trotters. The six-year-old son of Muscle Hill, racing without shoes, moved three-wide in the stretch for driver Andrew McCarthy and reached the wire first over a quickly-improving track rated sloppy to begin the day. Satin Dancer surged up the inside to narrowly nab second over a fast-closing Lagerfeld.
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50-1 Dream Together upsets in Steele Memorial

August 4, 2018

Dream Together provided the biggest upset of Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands. Driven by Bob McClure, the Muscle Hill mare, sent off at 50-1, came flying late to pass Broadway Donna in the $154,800 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for free-for-all mare trotters, stopping the clock in 1:51.3. She paid $105.60, $49.60 and $25.20.
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Manchego wins Hambo Oaks in 1:50!

August 4, 2018

Dan Patch Award winner Manchego took command early in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks Saturday, August 4 and held off a challenge in the lane by slight favorite Phaetosive to win in a stakes record 1:50. It was yet another record performance for the team of Yannick Gingras and Jimmy Takter, who have won the last five Hambletonian Oaks. Plunge Blue Chip trotted third.
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Prospect Hill, Demon Onthe Hill fastest in PASS

August 2, 2018

A pair of sons of Muscle Hill, Prospect Hill and Demon Onthe Hill, became the fastest freshmen trotters of 2018 on a five-eighths mile track with 1:55.4 clockings while running their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes records to two-for-two in winning Thursday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Their clocking was then equaled in the third Sires division by the Cantab Hall colt Osterc, with all three victors taking lifetime bests.
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Trainer Cecere takes three PA Stallion races

August 1, 2018

A big week for Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-old colts at Harrah’s Philadelphia started on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 1) with six divisions of the second preliminary leg of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for trotters.
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Muscle Hill mare wins Stochampionatet

July 23, 2018

Mellby Free, driven by Björn Goop, won the prestigious Stochampionatet at Axevalla Sunday afternoon (July 22).

The Stochampionatet race over the 1-5/8th mile distance is for 4-year-old mares and this was the 59th edition of the race, which carries a purse for the winner of $135,000.
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Muscle Hill juveniles dominate PA All-Stars

July 10, 2018

Wilkes-Barre, PA --- Prospect Hill and Fashion Possessed trotted matching 1:56.4 miles — the fastest to date in 2018 by 2-year-olds on a five-eighths-mile track — in their $30,000 divisions of the Pennsylvania All-Stars for colts and geldings Monday night (July 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. In addition to Prospect Hill, sire Muscle Hill accounted for four other winners in this All-Stars event.
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Muscle Hill fillies run top two in the Oaks

March 24, 2018

Addington - New Zealand --- Trotting sire Muscle Hill produced a notable harness racing quinella at Addington

last night, when two of his progeny finished first and second in the Storer Motors (Group 2) New Zealand Trotting Oaks. The winner of the Oaks was the Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen trained Luby Lou (Muscle Hill - Luby Ann), who whistled home in the middle of the track to easily beat the North Island trained Girls On Film (Muscle Hill -

Regal Volo) .
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Charlie Williams is 2017 Caretaker of the Year

January 26, 2018

Harrisburg, PA --- Charlie Williams, the stallion manager at Southwind Farms in New Jersey, has been named the recipient of the 2017 Caretaker of the Year Award by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

Williams, 68, has worked at Southwind Farms for nearly three decades. Williams was born in Georgia and began working with horses as a young man in Florida. He spent the early part of his career with Thoroughbreds, as an exercise rider and caretaker, before a knee injury forced him to give up riding.

While sidelined because of his injury, Williams answered an advertisement for a part-time job at Southwind Farms. His horsemanship and attention to detail eventually led him to his current position at the farm, where he has cared for some of the sport’s top stallions, beginning with Valley Victory and Artsplace right through to today with Muscle Hill.
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Resolve's book full and closed

November 29, 2017

Southwind Farms and Tara Hills Stud have announced that the book for world champion Resolve 4,1:50.4 ($2,621,086), the richest son of champion sire Muscle Hill, in North America, is full and closed.
"We are delighted that breeders throughout Canada and the United States have supported our new stallion." "The response to him has been overwhelming and we look forward to the 2018 breeding season", said David Heffering of Tara Hills.
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Manchego romps in Breeders Crown 2YOFT

Oct. 27 Hoosier Park
Manchego became the first undefeated 2-year-old female trotter to win a Breeders Crown, capturing Friday night's $600,000 final by 4¼ lengths over Seviyorum in 1:54.4 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park. Phaetosive finished third.

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Oct. 15 - London, Ontario - Mohawk Seelster tops second London session at $220,000

Mohawk Seelster fetched the highest price of the second session of the London Selected Yearling Sale as the inaugural two-day sale concluded in London, Ont. on Sunday (October 15).

Mohawk Seelster sold for $220,000 to Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont. A son of Sportswriter - Macapelo Rose, Mohawk Seelster is a half-brother to speedy pacing mare Mayhem Seelster p, 2, 1:53s, 3, 1:51.3s -'16 ($392,395).

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Oct. 6 2017 - Southwind Bugz steals the show for $335,000 at Lexington Selected Sale

Hip No. 368, Southwind Bugz, a son of Muscle Hill-Missymae Bluestone, is now owned by Kenneth Jacobs. Consigned by Preferred Equine Inc. and raised by Southwind Farms, the bay colt entered the arena with a regal air as the bidding ensued around him.

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Oct. 5 2017 Beautiful Sin at $480,000 becomes new sales-topper at Lexington Selected Sale

Lexington, KY --- As only 20 more of her colleagues prepared to enter the ring for the second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale on Wednesday (Oct. 4), the majority of the crowd had already availed themselves of the exit while firmly gripping their catalogues. Those that remained were obviously paying attention to the price Beautiful Sin was demanding, but all conversation ceased once the toteboard hit $300,000.

From there on in, all the observers held their breath while waiting to discover the sum the daughter of Muscle Hill-Sina would command. The answer supplied was $480,000 and when the next hip number flashed on the screen, those in attendance collectively released their breath while clapping in honor of the new sales-topper.

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US-bred Propulsion sets 1:49.3 Swedish mark

Propulsion, a 6-year-old stallion by Muscle Hill-Danae, bred by Rikki Caldwell of Cane Run Farm and Bluestone Farms, set a Swedish record of 1:49.3 when he won the Hugo Aberg Memorial on Tuesday night at the five-eighths mile Jagersro track in Malmo, Sweden. Daniel Reden trains Propulsion for Bengt Agerup's Stall Zet.

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Muscle Hill colt tops Swedish sale at $365,000

The annual yearling sale of horseman Lufti Kolgjini was held Monday night in Sweden and a colt by Muscle Hill set a new Swedish record when he was sold for 3 million Swedish krona. That is approximately $365,000.

The colt, named Nagamori Hill, is a half brother to the accomplished Lavec Kronos and Raja Mirchi. Lennart Agren's SRF Stable, known in the US for purchasing yearlings and racing such notables as Obrigado, bred the colt. The buyer was Anders Strom's Courant AB, also well known in the US for both buying yearlings and racing horses, among them Cruzado dela Noche and Tamla Celeber S.

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Vivacious Allie sets PASS mark; Sire Sweep for Muscle Hill Fillies

July 11 - The Meadows
A handful for Aaron Merriman for much of the mile, Vivacious Allie got her act together in the Lightning Lane and broke her maiden in a stakes-record 1:55 in Tuesday’s $167,016 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows.

The event for freshman filly trotters, known as the Meadow Gladys, was contested over four divisions, with Manchego, Front Circle and Special Hill taking the other splits. Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter teamed for a stakes double with Manchego and Special Hill. The four winning fillies provided a sire’s sweep for their dad, Muscle Hill.
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Oct. 24 2016 Southwind Farms Drone Video #2

Videographer Aaron Re who does all of the Southwind Farms yearling videos has another stunning drone video of Southwind Farms from the skies. While videoing our yearlings for the Harrisburg Sale Aaron put together the 1 minute 30 seconds long video.

....click here to view

Muscle Hill yearling sells for $800,000

Hip  70 Tuesday’s opening session of the Lexington Select Yearling Sale saw harness racing bloodstock agent Martinez Equine put up a final bid of $800,000 for a Muscle Hill colt out of the Varenne mare Southwind Serena. It was lot 70 in the Lexington Selected Sale and his name is Tactical Landing.

The colt was sold by Hunterton Sales Agency.

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Mike Lizzi photo

Muscle Hill's Dominate Trotting Statistics

• 2016  Leading Money Winning Sires in 2016  All Age Trotters
• 2016  Leading Sires Average Earnings per foal 3-year-Old Trotters
• 2016  Leading Money Winning Sires in 2016   2-Year-Old Trotters

...... view the statistics

Muscle Hill wins BIG at the Big M

Champion trotting sire Muscle Hill had a red-letter day on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands last Saturday.

The winner of the Hambo in 2009, Muscle Hill sired the winners of seven big trotting classics including the $1-million Hambletonian and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks.

Muscle Hill produced the winners of both $70,000 Hambo eliminations in Marion Marauder (1:51.6) and Bar Hopping (1:51.8) with Marion Marauder returning to win the Final in 1:51.8 beating Southwind Frank (by Muscle Hill) by a nose.

Marion Marauder, who is out of a Donerail mare, is now the richest trotter in North America this year with $729,905. He is the second Hambo winner sired by Muscle Hill, the other being Trixton who took out the 2014 edition.

All The Time, last year’s Breeders Crown champion, added the Hambletonian Oaks to her list of major race successes, scoring in 1:52.2.

Muscle Hill sired the winners of both two-year-old classics on the Hambo undercard.

What The Hill (ex Angus Hall mare) captured the $294,450 Peter Haughton Memorial in 1:54.8, while Ariana G won the $306,500 Jim Doherty Memorial in a season’s record 1:53.2. Ariana G, out of a mare by Cantab Hall, is the richest two-year-old trotter in America with a $215,587 bankroll.

To cap off a brilliant day Resolve, a five-year-old entire son of Muscle Hill, hoisted a season’s record 1:50.4 in winning the $273,600 John Cashman Memorial. The performance follows his close second in the prestigious Elitlopp in Sweden two starts earlier.

Muscle Hill is now the leading sire of trotters in every age group this year – all age, two and three-year-old. He is $700,000 ahead of his nearesty rival on the All Aged list.

Barry Skolnick CEO

As President of  BLS Asset Managment (formerly Solgar Vitamin & Herb company), Barry has been involved with the family business since 1979, spearheading a subsidiary in Real Estate- investing, acquiring and developing in residential, commercial and industrial real estate and now a privately-held family office, investing in a variety of diverse investment opportunities.

Barry is Trustee of the Skolnick Family Charitable Trust.  He has a Bachelor's degree from SUNY Oneonta.  He is currently single with two grown sons.  Barry also enjoys racing and is a founding member of the Monticello Motor Club.  He enjoys sports and actively participates in tennis, yoga and working out at the gym.

Read the recent Hoof Beats article on Barry .....click here

August 25 2010

Farm Manager Laura Young is profiled in Hoof Beats Way of Life, written by Nicole Kraft.

Read the complete story here

Aug. 8 2009

Southwind Farms owner, and Muscle Hill co-owner Allen Skolnick raises the Hambletonian trophy with Southwind Farm manager Laura Young.

Muscle Hill - wins Hambletonian

With an absolutely dominant world record 1:50.1 performance in today’s $1,520,333 Hambletonian Final, Muscle Hill made the dreams of many come true.

The win, his fifth in a row this year and 13th of 14 lifetime, puts Muscle Hill’s ’09 earnings at $1,015,241. Lifetime he now has $1.8 million banked for owners Jerry Silva, the TLP Stable, Southwind Farm and Muscle Hill Racing.

“It’s something we’ve waited for a long, long time and something that we’ll cherish for a long time. I can’t give enough credit to the whole team that made this possible. It’s been quite a ride all season long, the horse has been perfect,” said co-owner Allen Skolnick of Southwind.

August 2006   Feature article in The Harness Edge

Click here to read (pdf format)