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.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Huntsville seeks to cap his spectacular season with another triumph in the Governor’s Cup after his Breeders Crown win shown above.

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.”