Hall of Fame will induct local stallion

UPPER FREEHOLD — A racehorse at Perretti Farms has been voted into the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame's Living Horse Hall of Fame.

Muscles Yankee, a champion on the track who has passed along his speed and stamina to sons and daughters while standing stud at the farm in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold, will join Miss Easy as the two 2009 additions to the Living Hall of Fame, according to Stanley Bergstein, chairman of the Living Horse Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

Perretti Farms spokesman Bob Marks said Muscles Yankee has followed in the siring tradition of his sire Valley Victory and his maternal grandsire Speedy Crown.

"Each year, during Hambletonian Week, scores of trotting aficionados from around the world make pilgrimage to the farm just to view the great stallion whose progeny like Mr. Muscleman, Deweycheatumnhowe, Tom Ridge and Muscle Hill have attained worldwide fame," Marks said. "Everyone at Perretti Farms is deeply honored by the Hall of Fame nomination extended to Muscles Yankee."

The Hall of Fame Nominating Committee gave Muscles Yankee 36 percent of the vote and Miss Easy 22 percent. The other horses receiving votes were Varenne with 18 percent, Real Desire with 13 percent and Presidential Ball with 11 percent.

Induction ceremonies for the two racehorses will take place at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., on Hall of Fame Day, July 5.

For information on the Hall of Fame weekend, visit www.harnessmuseum.com.