by Ray Cotolo, for WEG Communications
Toronto, ON — Going for his seventh consecutive win in his 11th start of the season, Huntsville headlines the C$520,000 Governor’s Cup final on Saturday night (Nov. 19) at Woodbine Racetrack.
The homebred Somebeachsomewhere-Wild West Show colt for owner/trainer Ray Schnittker and Charles Iannazzo, as well as partners Steven Arnold and Ted Gewertz, has amassed $603,234 in earnings this season. He also tied a world record with a mark of 1:49 at The Red Mile in a division of the International Stallion Stakes.
“We had two other colts, both were (by) Somebeach(somewhere), but they just never finished their last hundred feet,” Schnittker said. “Both of those horses had about $350,000, $400,000 made, but they never had that pop. (Huntsville) was second at Chester the one day; he got shuffled into the last turn and was still big enough to come home in a 1:51 mile; he showed me he might have what it takes.”
Most of Huntsville’s wins this year have come on the lead, with his effort in the Breeders Crown elimination being one of his few off-the-pace performances.
“He’s pretty nice to drive,” Schnittker said. “He can leave, sit a hole, and he’s very comfortable. He really feels like he wants to get by at the end of the mile, towards the wire.
Huntsville’s 1:49.1 victory in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace was his last start heading into the Governor’s Cup, as no eliminations were necessary.
“I’ve had enough races the way these have been going,” Schnittker said. “Other than that race in the mud (at The Red Mile in a Bluegrass division), every race he has been in or has gone 1:51 or better. Those miles start beating up on them, but so far he has been taking them pretty well. We trained him in a mile of 1:57 at Goshen, and are more or less trying to keep an edge on him. He’s probably as sharp as he’s ever going to get right now; it’s hard to keep him this good this long.”
Tim Tetrick will drive Huntsville from post position two.
“The way they cross the track at Woodbine I don’t think post matters that much,” Schnittker said. “If we were at the Meadowlands, I’d like (post) two a lot better, but I think Woodbine’s pretty fair that way.”
The Governor’s Cup will be Huntsville’s last race this season.
“I haven’t really looked at the schedule (for next year), but he’s going to get a good eight to ten weeks off,” said Schnittker. “We’ll bring him back when he’s ready.”
- Valley Victory and Three Diamonds eliminations contested (Friday, November 11, 2016)
Grand Circuit 2-year-olds invaded Woodbine Racetrack Friday night (Nov. 11) for the eliminations of the Valley Victory and Three Diamonds, part of the Fall Four series. Each stake featured two C$25,000 eliminations, with the other two events in the Fall Four, the Governor’s Cup and Goldsmith Maid, going directly to a final.
- Caviart Ally seeks first open stakes score in Three Diamonds (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)
Winning races might be in Caviart Ally’s blood and there could be no more appropriate time for the 2-year-old female pacer to get her first open stakes victory than Saturday’s C$427,000 Three Diamonds Stakes at Woodbine. After all, Three Diamonds is in her blood too.
- Fall Four stakes in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, November 16, 2016)
The Grand Circuit returns to Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday (Nov. 19) with the Fall Four finals for 2-year-old pacers and trotters. On tap will be the C$520,000 Governor’s Cup for pacing colts, the C$447,000 Goldsmith Maid for filly trotters, the C$427,000 Three Diamonds for pacing fillies and the C$404,000 Valley Victory for colt trotters.
- Downbytheseaside wins with authority in Governor’s Cup (Saturday, November 19, 2016)
Downbytheseaside got one back on rival Huntsville Saturday night (Nov. 19) in the C$520,000 Governor’s Cup at Woodbine Racetrack. The Brian Brown trained colt delivered a powerful performance to win the final major race of the season for 2-year-olds in 1:51.1.
- That’s The Ticket, Magic Presto take Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid (Saturday, November 19, 2016)
That’s The Ticket charged home to win the C$427,000 Three Diamonds for 2-year-old pacing fillies at odds of 5-1 Saturday night (Nov. 19) at Woodbine Racetrack. The Chris Ryder trained pacing filly was able to convert off a perfect third-over trip from driver David Miller for her second win in 14 starts.Sent off the 5-2 second choice, Magic Presto sat a pocket trip to 3-5 favorite Princess Aurora before edging off the pylons in the stretch and sweeping to a 1:55.4 victory in the C$447,000 Goldsmith Maid final
- Snowstorm Hanover blasts rivals in Valley Victory (Sunday, November 20, 2016)
Snowstorm Hanover grabbed control early in the mile and coasted around the Woodbine oval to a 1:55.1 win as the 7-5 public choice in the C$404,000 Valley Victory final on Saturday evening (Nov. 19).