East Rutherford, NJ --- "If I die now, I got it."
That was the happy -- and perhaps relieved -- reaction of part owner, trainer and driver Ray Schnittker, who drove the heavily favored Deweycheatumnhowe to victory, in 1:52, in "it" -- the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final on Saturday at the Meadowlands. USTA/Mark Hall photo
Deweycheatumnhowe held off Crazed by a half-length to win the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final on Saturday at the Meadowlands.
Schnittker had drawn himself the rail position at this past Tuesday's press conference, and used the innermost starting slot to its best advantage by immediately sprinting to the top. The race, as it unfolded, was nearly void of great drama thereafter: The undefeated trotter raced on top through fractions of :26.4, :55 and 1:23.2 with Crazed, the second choice of the crowd, right behind.
The sole challenge came from a longshot, Velocity Hall (David Miller), who raced in the first-over position on the backstretch, but who was easily held at bay by the winner. At the top of the stretch, driver Tim Tetrick came out from behind "Dewey's" cover with Crazed, and made one move towards an upset -- but fell a half-length short of victory. Make It Happen (Daniel Dube) closed in the stretch and finished third, 3-1/4 lengths behind, and Celebrity Secret (Brian Sears) finished fourth.
In speaking with NBC Sports commentator Donna Barton Brothers, just a few moments after the win, Schnittker said, "I don't think the front end was that great today -- :26.4. I actually thought he might be getting beat halfway down the lane. He dug deep. He just dug in and refused to let him (Crazed) get by."
About his decision to leave from post one, Schnittker said, "I guess an old dog has a hard time learning new tricks. I said, 'okay, if we get beat we get beat, but I'm going to do what's worked best for me (going to the lead at the start)."
The driver, who won his first Hambletonian on Saturday, did something he hasn't had to do much: He took out his whip and tapped Deweycheatumnhowe as they approached the wire.
"I got a bit excited," Schnittker laughed. "I was just hoping. He's a very tough horse (Crazed). I was hoping it'd be hard to get by and it was."
Asked about his strategy throughout the race, he said, "I was trying to back into Dave (Miller, driving Velocity Hall) as much as I could; I knew he didn't have much stock. About a quarter way down the lane, he was going all he could go."
Speaking of the third place finish by Make It Happen, who is also trained and co-owned by Schnittker, he said, "Danny's (Daniel Dube) a great guy, a great driver. I didn't drive him (Make It Happen) very good in the (Hambletonian) elimination, but I told Dan (Dube, about Make It Happen), 'he's got one good run, if you sit in, he'll surprise you.'" USTA/Mark Hall photo
Ray Schnittker hoists the Hambletonian trophy following his victory with Deweycheatumnhowe.
Deweycheatumnhowe (Muscles Yankee-Trolley Square, by Speedy Somolli) has yet to taste defeat in 15 career starts, and has now banked $1,953,246. The mile was a new record, two-fifths of a second faster than he recorded in winning the Dancer Memorial elimination on July 4.
Deweycheatumnhowe was bred by Steve Jones, who bred and owns Pedigree Snob, who won the Sweetheart Pace Final for freshman fillies on Friday.
"I've had a lot of great partners and owners who are not here right now, but they're great people. I've had a lot of people pulling for me, even race secretaries and judges. It's been great," added Schnittker.
"We'll go to the World Trotting Derby (in Du Quoin, Ill. on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend), and then up to Canada (for the Canadian Trotting Classic) and Kentucky (for the Kentucky Futurity), and if he's still sound he's going to go to the Breeders Crown."
Schnittker shares ownership on Dewey with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable.
(from USTrotting.com).
Loading...
3:37
Crazed - 2008 Canadian Trotting Classic Elim 1by jporchak4,055 views
@joelsterling its ken workington
NJacapellajunkie 6 months ago
As good as Dewey was.. I must say Muscle Hill mighta been the best i have seen...
The way he won the Hambletonian was unreal...they could have went around the track again and not beat Muscle HIll....Both great trotters
PlaYah1979 7 months ago
I was watching F1 videos. How did I get here?
ShutUpNtellMe 11 months ago
For Meadowlands harness racing thoughts and insights, hometrackadvantage com
freddyblu22 2 years ago
Ken Warkentin. Him and Sam Mckee usually go back and forth announcing at the Meadowlands
KDET10 2 years ago
Ken Workingtion
msnbc87 2 years ago
Who is the track announcer in this video as it's not Sam Mackee?
joelsterling 2 years ago
ray is an excellent trainer,
sad to see dewey retire
kellixoo 2 years ago
2nd was the Crazed was going get that day. Dewey was a running fool.
Skoshi33 2 years ago
I think If Tetrick didnt get pushed around in the stretch trying to decide which way to go with Crazed (not his fault at all), he wouldve beaten Dewey. Looked like Tetrick wanted to go up the rail, but Schnitker wasnt letting it happen.........
KDET10 2 years ago