The $800,000 (all purses U.S.) Breeders Crown Open Trot featured a field of seven, with Mr. Muscleman bet down to 7-10 favoritism over 5-1 second choice Sand Vic. The favorite was quickest away at the start and led the field through a half-mile in 54.4. Sand Vic moved up alongside him to challenge for the lead going into the far turn, and they were a neck apart after 3/4 in 1:23. A stretch duel seemed imminent, but the mid-race charge by Sand Vic going wide took its toll, as he appeared to tire midway through the stretch. Mr. Muscleman powered away to win by 5 1/2 lengths in a new track record time of 1:52. It was a long 2 1/4 lengths back from Sand Vic to 32-1 shot Elegant Man in third.
Winning driver Ron Pierce said, "You never can plan ahead (about going to the front) in races like this because you never know what everybody else is going to be doing. So I kind of made up my mind when the gate was picking up speed. He felt real good (when Sand Vic challenged approaching the far turn). I just sat there. I hadn't even called on him. I looked back and saw there was a big gap behind us just before we straightened up. So I pulled the plugs, yelled at him a little bit and chased him on. Never did touch him with the whip, I don't think. He did it all by himself.
