by Jim Moran, for Vernon Downs

Vernon, NY — The majestic Deweycheatumnhowe not only remained undefeated after 16 lifetime starts, but he also forged a 1:54 track record for 3-year-old trotting colts while defeating the nearest of his four rivals by eight lengths in a special $30,000 Open test for 3- and 4-year-olds on Friday (August 15) at Vernon Downs.

Chris Tully

Vernon Downs’ Jeff Gural, right, presents the trophy to driver-trainer Ray Schnittker and co-owner Ted Gewertz

The powerful son of Muscles Yankee-Trolley Square advanced from fifth at the quarter and closed from second at the top of the stretch to secure his sixth season’s score and hike his lifetime winnings to $1,968,246 for trainer-driver Ray Schnittker and his ownership partners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable.

See the video interview with Schnittker here.

In other action on Friday night, My Little Dragon generated the fastest mile in the 55-year history of Vernon Downs.

Competing in the $123,500 final of the Artiscape Pacing Series, sponsored by the Brittany Farms & Stallion Management, My Little Dragon took control of the race before the half, clocked in :56.4, and maintained the lead to the finish of the 1:49.4 mile, authoring not only the track’s first sub-1:50 performance, but also establishing a new Downs standard for older pacing mares.

Brian Sears, who was the subject of a bobble-head doll giveaway earlier in the evening, did the driving for trainer Noel Daley as the 5-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-My Little Pretty notched her eighth season’s score, 22nd all-time, and increased her lifetime winnings to more than $2 million for the Adam Victor & Son Stable.

Sears, who posted six victories during Friday’s 13 races, also guided Falls For You to a 1:53.1 triumph in the $133,500 final of the Conway Hall Trotting Series, sponsored by Walnut Hall, Ltd. That mile stands as a Vernon all-time record for 4-year-old trotting mares and the fastest mile by a diagonally-gaited performer at the meet.

Gaining the lead before the half, the bay daughter of Yankee-Glide-Armbro Niagara drew off in the stretch to record a seven length triumph, her third of the season. The career winner of $1,121,796 is trained by Trond Smedshammer and shared in ownership by Ted Gewertz, the Fair Winds Farm, Inc. and Willow Pond, LLC.

The filly Billie Bluechip (Sears driving), plus colts Spring Again (Bruce Clarke) and Drop Red (Sears) were winners in $10,000 divisions of Friday’s Kindergarten Classic Pacing Series for 2-year-olds, while Butterscotch Swirl (Chris Lems) and Cowboy Hanover (Luke Plano) captured the week’s top Miracle Mile tests for trotters and pacers, respectively.

Pacer Basilio Blue Chip’s 1:52.3 victory in Friday’s Miracle Mile-2 class was his seventh of the meet, tying him with the trotter Hanger Pride N for most equine tallies after 55 programs.

Downs Doings: There will be no live racing at Vernon Saturday night (Aug. 16) due to a concert by the Little River Band, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The Downs will still offer its regular afternoon and evening simulcasts…The track’s next live program will start at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday night, Aug. 21…Vernon’s weeklong afternoon and evening simulcasts begin daily at 11:00 a.m., while its video gaming facility operates from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. More information can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.