from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Ray Schnittker has been down the road to the $1.5 million Hambletonian several times before.

He finished third in the 1997 and 2000 editions with respective 40-1 longshots Armbro Plato and Armbro Truck — the closest he has come to hoisting the shiny, silver cup. But this season is vastly different. He is heading toward the first Saturday in August with the early race favorite and undefeated 2-year-old champion Deweycheatumnhowe.

The precocious trotter makes his 2008 debut in the $79,110 Dickerson Cup, race three, on Friday night (June 27) at the Meadowlands. The 2007 Dan Patch Award winner is a perfect 10-for-10 in his career, and six-for-six at the Meadowlands. His $936,191 in purses won last year was a record for a 2-year-old colt trotter.

Only six horses have entered the Hambletonian with undefeated records and claimed the trophy in the last 62 years: Donato Hanover (2007), Scarlet Knight (2001), Malabar Man (1997), Mack Lobell (1987), Sharp Note (1952) and Titan Hanover (1945).

“Now that I’ve been down this road to the Hambletonian I feel comfortable knowing what kind of horse it takes and what to do,” Schnittker said. “You can’t get carried away training a horse. You want to keep him in the same routine, and hopefully, you draw well and the horse is feeling good.

“Just being in other big races in my career helps, but they can throw hand grenades at you anytime,” he continued. “You know, with a horse like him, guys are always looking for you.”

But Schnittker says the colt is able to roll with the punches: “He can handle adversity. His first six races were all on off tracks, and even when he won the Valley Victory at Woodbine, the conditions were brutal. The wind was howling that night.”

Deweycheatumnhowe tuned up for this sophomore debut with a pair of scorching qualifying miles at the Meadowlands. Last week, he popped out of the pocket and soared past The Pres for a 1:53.1 clocking — the fastest mile he has trotted to date.

“He made a smooth transition from two to three,” Schnittker said. “Now he’s a little more focused and easier to drive. Last year, I had him in a blind bridle because he had a tendency to get a little hot. I switched to an open bridle with a running horse hood and blinker cups to maintain his focus.

“I was real happy with the second qualifier,” he continued. “It was kind of fast, but at least I got to sit a two hole and didn’t have to move him until the stretch. The colt on the front end is pretty good and he went by him quite easily. He’s come back very strong and qualified like a monster that day. Ideally, he’ll have three starts before the Hambletonian eliminations.”

Schnittker often rides the colt under saddle to break up the monotony of his training regimen.

“I rode him (Tuesday) and he likes that,” he said. “He also loves to swim. That’s all he did between the two qualifiers. I trained him down at the Meadowlands and just keep him legged up at my farm in Goshen. He’s just a happy-go-lucky horse who’s always feeling good.”

Deweycheatumnhowe’s winning streak began with a five length romp in his career debut, the Harriman Cup at the Meadowlands. In his next three starts, he swept two legs and the $175,000 final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes, convincing Schnittker he might be sitting behind the horse of a lifetime.

“Last year the big colt trained down okay but in his first baby race, I could tell that he might be something special,” Schnittker recalled. “He finished second, yet he made up 15 or 20 lengths, and he was really motoring down the lane. It was his stride. I always thought he’d be at least a decent horse, and maybe better later on in his career because he was so big, but he’s also so athletic.

“His best race last year might’ve been the sires stakes final,” he continued. “I had him in a bad spot that day and he still won. When I got off the bike that day I said to myself, ‘he’s the real deal.’ No horse is supposed to win from where he was.”

Deweycheatumnhowe was given a two-month break after that and then headed to The Red Mile where he reeled off two more stakes wins in a $92,000 Bluegrass division and a $90,500 International Stallion Stake split. From there, he headed to Canada and cruised to wins in his Valley Victory elimination and the $692,692 final. He capped his record-setting season with a sweep of the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands, scoring in 1:57.2 in the $650,000 final.

“I gave him that break last summer because basically, I didn’t have him staked at Freehold and I didn’t really want to put him on a half-mile track,” Schnittker said. “The schedule worked out well for him.”

Deweycheatumnhowe will start from post two in the Dickerson Cup on Friday night. He will face five other Hambletonian hopefuls in his race (only one colt in the field of seven is ineligible). But his top rival for the $1.5 million prize may be in race five. Snow White, the defending filly champion, will make her 2008 debut in the $68,110 Coaching Club Trotting Oaks.

“Snow White was an unbelievable 2-year-old, yet so far coming back she hasn’t looked that impressive,” he said. “She’s a great horse, and I wouldn’t mind a match-up with her, but I’m very confident in ‘Dewey.’”

He has already indicated Deweycheatumnhowe will retire at the end of 2008.

“I highly doubt whether he’ll race next year,” said Schnittker, who co-owns the colt with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable. “I sold half of him after last year’s sires stakes final and I have control of him until the end of this season. Walnut Hall owns his breeding rights.”

Schnittker has another Hambletonian hopeful, Make It Happen, also in action this weekend in the Yonkers Trot.

“I’m looking forward to a big weekend,” he said. “My other colt, Make It Happen, may not be as good, but he’s not bad. He’s a lot better on a big track. He raced super at Vernon Downs, winning the Empire Breeders Classic (in 1:54.4). He’ll probably race next in a 3-year-old open at the Meadowlands. I think he’s good enough for the Hambletonian.”

Road to The Hambletonian – June 26, 2008

Each week, Ken Warkentin ranks the top contenders for the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 2 at the Meadowlands.

Rank, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Owner, Ken Warkentin’s Comments
1, Snow White, John Campbell, Kevin Lare, North State Street St., Harness The Power and Jerry Silva. Champion filly has two winning qualifiers, 1:56.3 and 1:55.3, going into her 2008 debut in a Coaching Club Oaks division (post six). Wasn’t as strong last week, her blood work wasn’t perfect, but her connections aren’t overly concerned.

2, Deweycheatumnhowe, Ray Schnittker, Schnittker, Gewertz, Iannazzo, and Deweycheatumnhowe Stable. Puts his 10-race undefeated string on the line in the Dickerson Cup (post two) after two impressive qualifiers in 1:54 and 1:53.1. Schnittker didn’t want to go that fast last Thursday, but he got a perfect trip, he was loaded and he did it very easy.

3, Muscle Mass, Brian Sears, Erv Miller, Perretti and Black Horse Racing. Did not race last week after his seven-race undefeated string came to an end when he broke in his 2008 debut in NJSS. Resurfaces against older foes on June 27 (post two).

4, Celebrity Secret, Tim Tetrick, Staffan Lind, Celebrity Farms and Celebrity Secret Stable. Son of Yankee Glide made it three in a row with another brave finish in taking the NJJS Final in a career best of 1:54. This strong colt can take a lot of air and the Stanley Dancer is next.

5, Make It Happen, Ray Schnittker, Eat My Dust Stable, Daisy Acres, H. Taylor and J. Adkins. Stablemate to Deweycheatumnhowe and Empire Breeders Classic winner in 1:54.4 at Vernon Downs, a solid third from post nine in the Yonkers Trot elimination and drew post six for the final.

6, Fuel My Muscles, David Miller, Randy Beeckman, Ron, Doug and Jason Allen. Finished second in the NJSS Final, a neck behind Celebrity Secret. Gets a two-week rest before the Stanley Dancer eliminations.

7, Azur, Andy Miller, Walter Carroll, Vernon Yoder. After winning two straight NJSS divisions in 1:54.3 he was used hard to clear from post ten and faded to sixth in the NJSS Final. Has a chance to regroup before the Stanley Dancer eliminations.

8, Big Apple Deli, John Campbell, John Simpson Jr., Lon Frocione. Conway Hall colt finished second in the Empire Breeders Classic and the Yonkers Trot elimination. Landed post seven in the final. Simpson said he’s the best horse he’s ever had.

9, Blue York Yankee, Trond Smedshammer, Einari Kale Vidgren. Did not race last week after a strong third in NJSS. Tackles post seven against Deweycheatumnhowe in the Dickerson Cup.

10, Clerk Magistrate, Trevor Ritchie, Per Henriksen, Asa Farm. Did not race last week after winning his elimination and final of the Goodtimes with miles of 1:54.1 and 1:54. No race scheduled this week at press time.