by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — “If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you, the world will be yours and everything in it, what’s more, you’ll be a man, my son.”

Rudyard Kipling, as performed by Ray Schnittker.

Mike Lizzi photo

Dewycolorintheline was a 1:57.3 winner in the Yonkers Trot.

Schnittker and Dewycolorintheline prevailed Saturday night, winning the Yonkers Trot, edition 59. Yonkers Raceway’s first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown — worth $450,000 — turned out not to be a revival for the squeamish.

As if a harbinger, Boffin came up lame a few races before the Trot, and was scratched. Then, just as the reduced field of seven 3-year-olds — six colts and one gelding — bid adieu to the starters, 7-10 favorite Dontyouyforgetit (Brian Sears) immediately broke.

He quickly regained his balance while pole-sitting Fico (George Brennan) took early control. Second-choice Creampuff Macdaddy (Jason Bartlett) was in hot pursuit, with Dewycolorintheline — leaving from post position No. 2 — away third. However, Creampuff Macdaddy jumped if off coming out of the first turn.

Schnittker, wanting no part of a two hole, grabbed the baton from Fico right at a pokey, :29 opening quarter. Creampuff Macdaddy was back trotting, but taking some of the freshest night air Westchester had to offer.

More drama in the second bend, as Celebrity Stimulus (Tom Jackson) misbehaved, nearly going to his knees. Wrong place, wrong time for Dontyouforgetit, who was bothered like he was on the receiving end of a telemarketer at dinner time. Other back markers were also hindered, including lone gelding Lauderdale (Brent Holland).

Creampuff Macdaddy recovered to fall into a three hole at the :57.4 intermission, with Lauderdale fourth and Dontyouforgetit sixth, more than 23 lengths in arrears. The gang closed ranks coming toward the 1:27.2 three-quarters, with Creampuff Macdaddy pulling from third. However, he could not sustain that bid.

Cantab Abs (Trond Smedshammer) was about to be passed by Dontyourforget, who angled wide around a spent Creampuff Macdaddy. All the while, Dewycolorintheline owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane.

He was never seriously threatened, whipping Fico by a couple of lengths in 1:57.3, the second-slowest Trot (On The Tab-1:58.4 in 2010) since the Raceway reclaimed the event in 2006 (shipped out two seasons to allow construction in preparation for the “Empire City” era).

Lauderdale was third, with Dontyouforgetit — making up 19 lengths in the back half — fourth, beaten 4-1/2 lengths. Cantab Abs earned the last check, ahead of Creampuff Macdaddy (“He was just too hot,” Bartlett said. “I gave one tiny tap early and I lost him.”) and Celebrity Stimulus.

Dewycolorintheline, a $110,000 (Lexington) son of Deweycheatumnhowe (’08 Trotter of Year) co-owned (along with Deweycolorintheline Stable) by his trainer/driver, returned $16.20 (fourth choice) for his first win in six seasonal starts (2-for-13 lifetime, with career cash now $326,457). The exacta paid $66.50, with the triple returning $521.

“You really don’t know what’s going on behind you,” Schnittker said after winning his initial Yonkers Trot. “I knew George (Brennan) was on a longshot and probably wanted to follow me. My horse is better from off the pace and I know a couple of my owners may have had a stroke when I pulled but it all worked out.

“He fractured a knee last year,” Schnittker said. “We had to put a screw in his knee and he has come back so good. I have to thank Dr. Mike Ross who did the surgery. He did a great job and now this horse is one hundred percent.”

…and he kept his wits about him, too.