Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Toughtofthetoughest Wins $178,072 Hempt

May 20, 2006

Toughofthetoughest, trained by Paul Doherty and driven by Ray Schnittker, captured the $178,072 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace Saturday at Pocono Downs in 1:50.2, a new stakes record for the Hempt at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack and just one tick off the track record for a three-year-old pacing colt.

“I was thinking of taking myself off the pace but I didn’t want to get in any trouble with the entry of Sandro Hanover and True North Hanover,” said Schnittker. “But I made my own luck and went right to the top and we stayed there all the way. I had to get on him coming down the stretch because Pierce was coming hard on the inside. Sears and Sandro Hanover came after us down the backstretch but we hung tough. My horse got a little tired coming down the lane but he responded to me. He was fresher since we haven’t been racing him on the front end in those other starts this season.”

Tuffofthetoughest left quickly from the four hole and grabbed the lead, taking the nine-horse field to the opening quarter in 26.3, half in 54.2 and three-quarters in 1:21.2. Tuffofthetoughest won the 2006 Hempt by a head over True North Hanover.

“It’s nice to win the Max Hempt since I can remember when I was a 17-year-old kid I visited the Hempt Farm with my dad. They treated me like a future customer. I have pleasant memories of that visit. They are great people and great for our sport.”

On hand for the winner’s circle celebration were Ray’s father along with Ron Kelkenberg of Lockport, N.Y., and Ed Pachuta of East Brunswick, N.J. Frank Baldassare of New York, another owner of the 2006 Hempt winner, watched the race at the Meadowlands. The same group also celebrated last week at Freehold when A-Rod and Pierce won the Dexter Cup with Frank The Hands, another of their horses, finishing second.

“It has been a great two weeks,” said Kelkenberg. “It doesn’t get any better than this. We love coming to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.”

The purse was the second biggest ever won by Schnittker. His biggest came in a $200,000 stakes race with Covert Action. The Hempt was formerly called the Joseph B. Banks and Pocono Pace at the Northeastern Pennsylvania. Prior to 1995, it was called the William E. Miller and was raced at Rosecroft in Maryland from 1980-1994.

$178,072 Max Hempt Final Pocono Downs Results Saturday, May 20, 2006
Horse Driver
4 Tuffofthetoughest R Schnittker
8 True North Hanover Ron Pierce
3 Winback Speed John Campbell
5 Runover Again M Simons
7 Tyrant Hanover Joe Pavia
2 Foolish Grin Jack Parker
6 Sandro Hanover Brian Sears
1 Ivegotwhatuneed G Brennan
9 Eagle Real One David Miller
:26.3 : 54.2 1:21.2 1:50.2