by Kelly Young, Harness Horse Breeders of NYS

—The return of the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot to the Syracuse Mile on Sunday, Aug. 15, was met with a large crowd at the New York State Fairgrounds and an ovation for the winners of the two $109,150 divisions. Odds-on favorite Enflammatory scored in the fastest split and longshot Armbro Barrister surprised the crowd with his victory earlier on the card.

Enflammatory came first-over at the half and trotted on to victory

Enflammatory and driver Brian Sears took an early seat third in the second division. Mystical Sunshine—the only filly to enter against the colts—cut out the pace with Stephane Bouchard up. But at the half, Enflammatory came first over and drew away in the stretch to a 2 3/4 length victory in 1:54.1. The public correctly installed him as the overwhelming favorite at 3-5.

A photo was needed to separate the next three finishers, with Mystical Sunshine holding on for second, Il Pirata third and Self Obsessed fourth.

“In mid-stretch he really drew off,” said Ted Gewertz, who owns the winning son of Enjoy Lavec with Patricia Spinelli, Martha Frank and trainer Trond Smedshammer. “I thought maybe he could get behind the filly early, but he got out third and had to come first up. He did what was expected and it worked out well.”

Enflammatory, a winner of the New Jersey Sire Stakes final earlier in the season, was not eligible to the Hambletonian—which was won by stablemate Windsong’s Legacy—but is well staked for the remainder of the season, according to Gewertz.

Sears, formerly a regular driver at nearby Vernon Downs and now a leader at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, was warmly received by the crowd on his first visit back to Syracuse in several years. Fans cheered and called out his name as he circled Enflammatory in front of the grandstand for a victory lap.

photos by Rowena Blazer

Armbro Barrister came off cover at the top of the stretch and won the second division

In the first Zweig Trot division, Armbro Barrister and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker peeled out of the second-over position and flew down the stretch for a 1:5.1 win at 13-1 odds. His last quarter in :28.2 helped secure a new career mark for the son of Malabar Man.

American Mike and driver Ron Pierce were 1 3/4 lengths back in second and Amebury, with Steve Smith steering, rounded out the trifecta.

“He was loaded; he just exploded down the stretch,” said Schnittker after the race. “On a mile track he hasn’t been that great, so I was a little surprised. The last two weeks he’s finished well and that was always his week spot.”

Schnittker owns the colt with Earl Scheelar, Ron Kelkenberg’s Kelk’s Inc., and Jack Adkins. Now with three straight victories, Schnittker believes Armbro Barrister is finally hitting his stride, midway through the stakes season.

The drivers of both horses captured their first Zweig Trot victories. Dr. Harry Zweig’s widow, Anne Zweig, and son Brian were in the winner’s circle to congratulate the connections of each winner.

In the Zweig Filly Division, Jeff Gregory gave Enjoy The Sun a pocket trip and charged home for an easy 1:56.4 win. Trained by Jan Johnson for Arden Homestead Stable and Adelaide Skoglund, Gregory delighted in winning for owners he had driven regularly for in the past.

“Today she had a lot of trot coming out of the last turn and she felt very strong finishing. She was great—a very nice filly,” stated Gregory in the winner’s circle.

In New York Sire Stakes State Fair racing on the undercard, last year’s 2-year-old pacing colt champion, Uleavemebreathless, demonstrated that he is finally back after an early season injury that delayed his start as a 3-year-old.

Directed by Gregory, the colt by Sealed N Delivered took over the lead early and drew off by 7 1/4 lengths to win in 1:53.3. It was his first win of the season and a new career mark. The colt is owned by breeder Mathias Meinzinger and Thomas Haupert. He is trained by Chris Ryder.

Donna’s Girl, the leading 3-year-old filly pacer so far this season, continued to exhibit her “bad habit,” as driver Howard Okusko Jr. puts it, in her division. Once on the lead, the Village Jove miss tends to pull herself up turning for home.

“She pulled up at the top of the lane and let (Stephane Bouchard and L Dees Aunt Ang) go right by her and then came back,” said the driver, who added that he knew all along that she would fight back to win.

Claude Incaudo owns the Howard Okusko Sr.-trained filly with Carol Okusko. “I was worried in the turn, but then I’m always worried when she races,” said Incaudo. “She was tough today.”

This program marked the conclusion of the three-day State Fair racing meet at the Syracuse Mile.