by Sherri Powell, Standardbred Program, Illinois Department of Agriculture

Du Quoin, IL — Deweycheatumnhowe, the unbeaten freshman trotting champ of 2007, heads a list of 50 nominees to the $500,000 World Trotting Derby at the Du Quoin State Fair this summer.

Last year’s World Trotting Derby saw a match-up between Hambletonian winner Donato Hanover and runner-up Adrian Chip. The two colts repeated their 1-2 finish in the World Trotting Derby with Donato Hanover taking home the coveted trophy.

Last year, trainer Ray Schnittker guided Deweycheatumnhowe to earnings of $939,191 as he won all 10 of his starts. His fastest time was 1:54.2.

Although Deweycheatumnhowe won top honors last year, he’s certain to face stern opposition this year from another unbeaten colt in Muscle Mass, a winner of all seven of his career starts. He was the fastest freshman colt of 2007 with a world record 1:53.4 win at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

Another outstanding 2-year-old star of last season eligible for the World Trotting Derby is Surtees Hanover, who won eight of his 10 starts and finished second once and third once. He was developed by trainer Jonas Czernyson and earned $362,928 before being sold to Swedish owners. Surtees Hanover is following the path that Adrian Chip took last year. He has spent the winter in Sweden and will make his first starts of the season there before returning to the United States.

Two other top trotting youngsters from last year have included Du Quoin in their travel plans for 2008, and those are Blue York Yankee and Celebrity Secret. Blue York Yankee won the Peter Haughton Memorial over Surtees Hanover in August and Celebrity Secret finished second to Deweycheatumnhowe in the Breeders Crown in late November.

The second payment for participants is due March 15 and a final payment on April 15.

The World Trotting Derby card will be held at 12:00 noon (CDT) on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of County Fairs & Horse Racing at (217) 782-4231.