by T.J. Burkett, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — A pair of undefeated freshman trotting colts, world champion Muscle Mass and Deweycheatumnhowe, continued their winning ways in their respective divisions of the Walnut Hall Limited Cup Bluegrass Series over a sloppy track at The Red Mile on Thursday afternoon, September 27.

Nigel Soult photo

Deweycheatumnhowe remained unbeaten in five career starts after his 1:55.3 Bluegrass Series win at The Red Mile.

Deweycheatumnhowe won the fastest of the five Bluegrass divisions, scoring in 1:55.3 for driver-trainer Ray Schnittker.

Schnittker took the Muscles Yankee colt to the top after a :28.1 quarter and never looked back, even though front-end speed has not held up recently at The Red Mile.

“I was far back off the gate and I pulled after seeing that first quarter in :28.1,” Schnittker said. “I knew the other drivers thought I had a good horse so there was a good chance I wouldn’t get his brains parked out if I pulled.”

After winning his first four starts at the Meadowlands, including the $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes final in July, Schnittker gave Deweycheatumnhowe a two-month break before starting in the Bluegrass.

“He wasn’t staked to anything else until Lexington so I gave him a break. He’s eligible to the Valley Victory and the Breeders Crown as well as the International Stallion Stake next week,” Schnittker added.

Deweycheatumnhowe is owned by the partnership of Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable.

Muscle Mass trotted through a blinding downpour to win his $91,000 Bluegrass division in 1:57.3. Dave Palone drove the Muscles Yankee colt for trainer Erv Miller and co-owners Perretti Racing Stable and Black Horse Racing.

Like Deweycheatumnhowe, Muscle Mass won his division with a front-end trip.

“It’s a tough spot to be in on the front in pouring down rain, but Dave didn’t want to get him jammed up,” Miller said. “He looked comfortable out there and handled it well.”

Surtees Hanover, the richest of the Bluegrass winners with $317,678 in lifetime earnings, won the first Bluegrass division in 1:56. David Miller drove the Andover Hall colt for trainer Jonas Czernyson, who picked up his second Bluegrass win of the week. Robert Rosenheim Stables owns Surtees Hanover.

According to their trainers, all three of the above winners are scheduled to start in the International Stallion Stake during week two of The Red Mile Grand Circuit meet.

Skad’s Winner won his Bluegrass division in 1:57.3 with George Brennan aboard. Joe Holloway trains the Broadway Hall colt for co-owners Thomas Cunningham, Steven Arak, Clare Russell, Carol Agins and breeder Bluestone Farms.

“There’s nothing really flashy about him. He just keeps coming and keeps trying,” Holloway said.

Yankee Matthew won the fifth Bluegrass split in 1:58. Dave Palone drove the Muscles Yankee colt to his third consecutive win for trainer Mark Harder, who co-owns Yankee Matthew with Scott Kurzrok and Stable 45.

Racing continues on Friday afternoon, September 28, with a 12:30 p.m. first post. Three-year-old fillies will square off in three divisions each of the Glidemaster Bluegrass Series for trotters and the Cabrini Hanover Bluegrass Series for pacers.