by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Deweycheatumnhowe took his first strides toward the Hambletonian with a 1:54 qualifier win on Thursday (June 5) at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Deweycheatumnhowe was an impressive 1:54 winner in his qualifier on Thursday for Ray Schnittker.

Driven by trainer Ray Schnittker, the undefeated 3-year-old colt was positioned in sixth place going around the first turn. Schnittker moved Deweycheatumnhowe to the lead down the backside and pulled away from the field by 10 lengths in the stretch. He covered the final half-mile in :55.2.

“He did it really handy,” Schnittker said. “I moved him at the quarter. There wasn’t really a lot in the race and I knew whenever I asked he was going to go. He did it real easy. It was a good mile. I think he’s ready to race.”

Schnittker plans to send Deweycheatumnhowe into another qualifier in two weeks before making his debut in the Dickerson Cup at the Meadowlands on June 27.

Deweycheatumnhowe is owned by Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable. He was 10-for-10 last season on his way to the Dan Patch Award as best 2-year-old male trotter. His victories included the Breeders Crown and Valley Victory.

Hambletonian hopefuls Ace High Hall and Muscle Mass were separated by a neck in 1:54.3 in the qualifier prior to Deweycheatumnhowe’s debut. Ace High Hall, trained by Mark Ford and driven by John Campbell for owner Martin Scharf, made $118,208 last year, primarily on the New York Sire Stakes circuit.

Among the filly trotters, Merrie Annabelle champ Muscovite won a qualifier in 1:57.4, by a half length over Diana Hall. Muscovite is trained by Ron Gurfein, driven by Mike Lachance, and owned by Tapas LLC.

Two of the sport’s top pacers from last season, millionaire Kenneth J and North America Cup runner-up Sutter Hanover, made their first qualifier efforts of the year, but Kinetic Yankee showed the way by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.2. Kenneth J was second and Sutter Hanover was third.