Game Huntsville wins Cane Pace
August 5, 2017,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
East Rutherford, NJ — Huntsville got to the lead in the first turn and never looked back, winning Saturday’s $334,325 Cane Pace for 3-year-old pacers by a neck over R J P in 2:03 at the extended distance of 1-1/8 miles for the seventh race at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday (Aug. 5). Downbytheseaside was third.
Starting from post one in a field of 12, Huntsville and driver Tim Tetrick outdueled longshot Lawrencetown Beach for the lead as the field entered the first turn and reached the quarter in :25.4. Lawrencetown Beach remained parked out on the backstretch, with Downbytheseaside on the pylons in third, as Huntsville hit the half in :54.
R J P made a three-wide move around Lawrencetown Beach and moved into second as the group neared three-quarters, which was reached in 1:21.4. Huntsville and R J P battled through the stretch, timed in 1:49 for a mile, with Huntsville prevailing for his seventh win in 10 starts this year.
“He showed some toughness today,” winning trainer Ray Schnittker said. “After the first quarter I was a little concerned and (R J P) eyeballed him, but he’s just a very good horse.
“I don’t think they were going to beat us today.”
Schnittker co-owns Huntsville with Ted Gewertz, Steve Arnold, and Crawford Farms Racing. The colt is a son of Somebeachsomewhere out of the mare Wild West Show.
Huntsville has won 14 of 21 career races and never finished worse than second. He has earned $1.58 million.
“I hope he goes the rest of the year like that,” Schnittker said. “I’d be very happy.”
The Cane Pace is the first jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown. The remaining two legs are the Little Brown Jug and Messenger. Schnittker said Huntsville would not go to the Little Brown Jug.
Huntsville paid $3.40, $2.60, $2.10. RJP returned $5.40, $2.60. Downbytheseaside paid $2.10.
- Blazin Britches equals track record in Shady Daisy (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Blazin Britches and driver David Miller equaled a track record of 1:48.4 in winning the $113,950 Shady Daisy for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
- Pasithea Face S upsets Hannelore Hanover in Dr. John Steele Memorial (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Pasithea Face S and Tim Tetrick won the $176,250 Dr. John Steele Memorial for trotting mares in 1:51.2 by two lengths for her first U.S. win on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
- You Know You Do rallies to capture Peter Haughton Memorial (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
You Know You Do overtook stablemate Samo Different Day in the stretch to win Saturday’s (Aug. 5) $360,650 Peter Haughton Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters in 1:54.2 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
- Manchego keeps perfect record intact in Jim Doherty Memorial (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
The 1-2 favorite Manchego added another win to her resume, winning by 2-1/4 lengths over a closing Phaetosive, to capture the 35th edition of the $330,800 Jim Doherty Memorial final for 2-year-old trotting fillies in the fifth race on Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
- Resolve is a dominant winner in John Cashman Memorial (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Resolve (Ake Svanstedt) won the $303,050 John Cashman Memorial for open trotters by 4-1/4 lengths in a time of 2:04.2 for the mile and an eighth race on Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
- Perfect Spirit wins Hambletonian via disqualification (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Perfect Spirit and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt captured the $1 million Hambletonian final on Saturday (Aug. 5) at Meadowlands Racetrack after What The Hill and driver David Miller, who crossed the wire first in 1:52.3, were disqualified for interference in the stretch. Devious Man was placed second and Enterprise was placed third.
- Two Am, Ice Attraction take Townsend Ackerman and Duenna (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Two Am wore down Yes Mickey in the stretch to capture the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman by 2-1/2 lengths in the 10th race on Saturday (Aug. 5) at the Meadowlands.
- Check Six scores at 38-1 in Sam McKee Memorial (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Check Six was charging hard in the lane, propelling the 4-year-old stallion to a 38-1 surprise in Saturday’s (Aug. 5) $224,400 Sam McKee Memorial for older male pacers by two lengths over Mel Mara in 2:02.1 for the extended distance of 1-1/8 miles at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
- Ariana G decimates the field in Hambletonian Oaks (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Ariana G cemented her dominance of the trotting filly division. The 1-5 favorite Ariana G, with Yannick Gingras driving, cruised to a 4-3/4 length victory over Magic Presto to capture the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, the 12th race on Saturday (Aug. 5) at The Meadowlands.
- Pure Country scores first win of the season in Lady Liberty (Saturday, August 05, 2017)
Pure Country faced pressure for the final quarter-mile from Nike Franco N but fended off the challenge to win Saturday’s (Aug. 5) $200,400 Lady Liberty Stakes for older female pacers by a head in 1:50 at the Meadowlands. Nike Franco N was second and fast-closing Penpal finished third.