East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Muscle Massive, driven by Ron Pierce, rallied down the stretch to capture Saturday's 85th running of the $1.5 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands. Muscle Massive trotted the mile in 1:51.

The Hambletonian, harness racing's premier event, is the second leg of trotting's Triple Crown for three-year-olds. On The Tab won the first leg, Yonkers Trot, and the final race will be the Kentucky Futurity on October 16 at The Red Mile.

Setting the pace in the 2010 Hambletonian was Cassis, one of the elimination race winners from last week. The other winners were 2009 champion two-year- olds Lucky Chucky and Pilgrims Taj. Lucky Chucky went off as the 3-2 favorite and Cassis was the 5-2 second choice. Pilgrims Taj was the 9-1 at post-time.

Cassis, driven by Tim Tetrick, led the field up the backstretch and into the far turn. Lucky Chucky, with John Campbell driving, made a two-wide move around the turn into second and took the lead entering the stretch.

Lucky Chucky had a clear lead at the top of the stretch when Muscle Massive, who had been racing second, moved to the outside for the final furlong. Pierce got his colt even with Lucky Chucky inside fifty yards and went on to post a half-length victory.

Lucky Chucky was second followed by Wishing Stone and Pilgrims Taj in fourth.

Completing the order of finish was Temple Of Doom, Mystery Photo, Hard Livin, Cassis, On The Tab, Holiday Road

Muscle Massive returned $15.00, $5.80 and $5.00. Lucky Chucky paid $3.40 and $2.80, and Wishing Stone paid $5.80 to show.

Trained by Jimmy Takter, Muscle Massive earned $750,000 with the victory. The colt picked up his sixth career win in 14 starts and has earnings of $995,192.

"This is a race everyone dreams of winning," Takter said. "I loved this horse from the beginning. Last week we knew he wasn't going to be at his best, but he was today."

The colt won the Stanley Dancer Memorial last month at The Meadowlands and was second in the Dickerson Cup.

Takter, who previously won the Hambletonian in 1997 with Malabar Man, also had On The Tab and Hard Livin in the race. Pierce also won the Hambletonian in 1993 with American Winner and 2007 with Donato Hanover.