While the pressure isn't the same as in 2008 with the undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe, trainer Ray Schnittker now faces the odds of becoming the first trainer to win both the Meadowlands Pace and the Hambletonian in the same year
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Schnittker's trotting colt Cassis won the fastest of the three $70,000 Hambletonian eliminations on Saturday night, and in conversation with Trot Radio's Norm Borg Schnittker states the colt doesn't appear to have yet reached his full potential.
"Every week he's getting stronger. This colt's actually starting to impress me, he's getting better every week, very nice to drive - you can do anything you want with him. I think I'm in pretty good shape."
In discussing how this he comes into this edition of the Hambletonian, set for this Saturday, August 7, Schnittker clearly is not feeling the same pressure he did two years ago.
"With Dewey being undefeated, there was pressure there. This one here is kind of a piece of cake," laughed Schnittker. "He's been going under the radar...we're just having a lot of fun."
While Meadowlands Pace winner One More Laugh will also see action this Saturday in the Oliver Wendell Holmes, his next stop is yet to be determined. Schnittker can go to the Confederation Cup or the Battle of Brandywine, and is leaning to the latter.
Borg and Schnittker also discuss the horseman's involvement with the youth races at Goshen, the Dewey Degree Scholarship and whether or not Schnittker feels there's a future for harness racing at the Meadowlands.
Episode 139 – Ray Schnittker
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg