Iannazzo is looking forward to Landmark Stakes in Goshen

by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Owner Charles Iannazzo and trainer/driver Ray Schnittker have been connected with some successful horses over the years and the duo might have another one in 2-year-old colt pacer Stevensville.

Stevensville, coming off a 1:52.2 win June 30 in a division of the Pennsylvania All Stars at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, is entered in Friday’s $14,440 Landmark Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers at Goshen Historic Track as the Grand Circuit visits the famed New York oval for the Hall of Fame weekend.

Iannazzo and Schnittker might be known best for campaigning 2008 Trotter of the Year Deweycheatumnhowe and female trotter Check Me Out, who was divisional champion as a 2- and 3-year-old and is preparing to make her 4-year-old debut later this month.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Owner Charles Iannazzo is looking forward to a busy Friday with his horses in Landmark Stakes action at Goshen.

They also are involved in Thoroughbred racing as part of the Ice Wine Stable, which scored a stakes victory at Royal Ascot on June 20 with 2-year-old colt No Nay Never.

Stevensville, who is 2-for-2 this season, was bred by Iannazzo and Schnittker, who is based at Historic Track. He will start from post eight in a field of eight. Post time is 1 p.m. for the first race at Historic Track, which is located adjacent to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.

The Grand Circuit meet begins Thursday with 10 New York Fair Stakes for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers. Action continues through Sunday followed by the annual Hall of Fame inductions Sunday evening.

Friday’s card features nine Landmark Stakes for trotters and pacers.

“He raced great at Pocono,” Iannazzo said about Stevensville. “He looks like he could be a nice horse. It’s pretty early in the season, but for now we have some high hopes.”

Stevensville, who is staked to the Breeders Crown as well as the Governor’s Cup and Matron, is a son of stallion Somebeachsomewhere out of the mare Wild West Show. He is Wild West Show’s second foal; her first, Cowboy Terrier, won a division of the Pennsylvania All Stars last year and is racing Friday in the $18,070 Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers.

In fact, Friday is something of a family affair at Historic Track as Wild West Show’s half-brother, Jones Beach, is also entered in the same Landmark Stakes as Cowboy Terrier. Iannazzo co-owns Cowboy Terrier and Jones Beach and both are trained by Schnittker.

“Jones Beach is a nice horse also,” Iannazzo said about the gelding, who has won three of 18 career races and earned $70,805. “He shows some good signs. I think he’s going to make a nice 4-year-old overnight horse at Yonkers because he gets around a half (-mile track) well.”

Wild West Show, who prior to becoming a broodmare was raced by Iannazzo and Schnittker and captured a Landmark Stakes division at Historic Track in 2008, won three of 17 career starts and earned $44,569.

“She started out great, but then she had injuries,” Iannazzo said. “We kept her because she was well bred and she’s turning out some nice babies. She seems to match up well with Somebeachsomewhere.”

Iannazzo’s day is not limited to pacers. He is co-owner of Caneel Hall, who is in the $13,670 Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters (and also in Saturday’s $155,624 Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers), plus Ruth-Like in the $19,170 Landmark Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters.

“We should have some fun,” Iannazzo said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

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