Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Hambo & Oaks Fields Now Set

July 27, 2008

Deweycheatumnhowe cemented his status as overwhelming favorite for the $1.5 million Hambletonian as he extended his winning streak to 14 in his elimination race Saturday at the Meadowlands.

Driver-trainer Ray Schnittker appeared to be merely along for the ride as Deweycheatumnhowe effortlessly strolled through fractions of 27.2, 55.3 and 1:23.3. Never challenged, the colt drew off to win the second of the three $70,000 elims in 1:52.3. It was over six lengths back to runner-up Pine After Pine, while Big Apple Deli was third. The $1.5 million Hambletonian, harness racing's most coveted prize, will be contested Saturday, August 2 at the Meadowlands.

"He made a big move today and just coasted home," Schnittker said. "You can drive him with two fingers. He like this track - most horses do - and he just gets over the ground great [at the Meadowlands]."

Deweycheatumnhowe is the first horse to enter the Hambletonian Final at the Meadowlands as undefeated. He has a perfect 10-for-10 record at the Meadowlands. His four victories this season include a 1:53.2 score in the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial.

Deweycheatumnhowe was named Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year after setting a single-season earnings record of $936,191 in 2007. Schnittker selected the son of Muscles Yankee-Trolley Square out of the Lexington Selected Sale for $80,000 as a yearling. He shares ownership of the colt with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, Frank Baldassare and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable [Walnut Hall and Jerry Silva].

Schnittker also qualified Make It Happen for the Hambletonian Final. Crazed looms the second choice in the Hambletonian after a career best 1:52.2 victory in the third elim. It was 2-1/4 lengths back to Clerk Magistrate, while Kajan Kooker rallied for third. Driver Tim Tetrick steered Hoffman, Rudolph and Lindy Racing's Crazed to his fifth career win. Frank Antonacci trains the son of Credit Winner-Mary Lou Hall, who was a $33,000 yearling purchase at the Harrisburg Sale.

Eric Goodell reined in 22-1 shot Atomic Hall in the first of the three Hambletonian elims. Goodell and Atomic Hall sat fifth the whole way and shook loose in the stretch to nail Celebrity Secret by a nose in 1:54. Velocity Hall rallied between them to finish third, just a half-length back. Make It Happen held fourth after taking the lead past the half and putting away the challenge of Guida Muscles. He advanced to the final as the fourth-place finisher with the highest career earnings.

Atomic Hall was a $40,000 yearling purchase at the Harrisburg Sale by Leif Alber of Soborg, Denmark. The son of Self Possessed-Audra Hall has now won two of 12 career starts for trainer Trond Smedshammer.

Driver Brian Sears will have a tough choice to make at Tuesday's post position draw after winning all three eliminations for the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks. The Meadowlands' leading driver steered Lantern Kosmos [1:54.2], Stage Show [1:54.3] and Creamy Mimi [1:55.1] to victories in their $35,000 dashes.

The biggest surprise of the night came in the second of the three elims as Snow White, the 1-2 favorite and defending divisional champion, made a break after failing to clear the lead down the backstretch. It was Sears and Stage Show who capitalized on the miscue, popping out of the pocket to nail the tiring pacesetter One Tough Lass by a head in 1:54.3.

"We've dealt with a soreness ever since her first start, and we're still dealing with it," said Snow White's trainer Kevin Lare. "We've been to the best places around and we're having an issue pinpointing where it is. John [Campbell] said it's like we were back to square one tonight. I don't think it's a crippling injury; it's not career threatening or anything. But we've got an issue we still have got to deal with. We'll go back home and do our homework again. She was never comfortable. We know where it's at, we just don't know what it is. We can't pinpoint what it is. It's right hind. We've done everything we can do and we can't find it. All we can do is come back to fight another day."