Ray Schnittker finally found something to dislike about Deweycheatumnhowe's season: It's coming nearer to an end.
"It kind of stinks," said Schnittker, who trains, drives and co-owns the three-year-old trotter. "I'd like to get another one like him, but I don't see it in the future. It's been a great experience. I never dreamed I could have a horse this good."
Deweycheatumnhowe will race in Saturday's Kentucky Futurity at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky and make possibly one or two more starts prior to the season-ending Breeders Crown on November 29 at the Meadowlands.
'Dewey' is coming off victories in the Canadian Trotting Classic, by two lengths in 1:53.2 in the slop at Mohawk Racetrack on September 13, and a division of the Bluegrass Stakes, which he won by six lengths in 1:52.2, last weekend at the Red Mile.
The wins put Dewey back on track after losing for the only time in his career in the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations, when he was beaten by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2 by Crazed.
"When he bounced back in Canada, I thought that was a huge win," Schnittker said. "He was unbelievable. If I'd gotten out at the head of the lane I'd have beaten them by six or seven lengths, I think. Good horses just bounce back; that's the sign of a good one."
The Kentucky Futurity carries a total purse of $684,000 and is the third jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown. Since there is only one division, all horses can return for the second heat. A horse must win two heats to be declared the race's winner. Napoleon won the Triple Crown's first leg, the Yonkers Trot, while Deweycheatumnhowe won the second, the Hambletonian.
Deweycheatumnhowe is 3-for-3 at the Red Mile, with his combined margin of victory being 12 lengths. Lifetime, the colt has won 19 of 20 races and earned $2.7 million. His $1.8 million this year puts him within striking distance of joining Donato Hanover as the only trotters to top $2 million in a season. Donato Hanover earned $2.3 million in 2007.
"He seems real good," Schnittker said about his colt, which he owns with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable. "I thought he raced good last week. Hopefully, we can put a couple good races together (Saturday) and we should be in good shape. He's undefeated here. He likes it. He should be real good. I can't imagine him throwing in a clunker. I don't think heats will bother him; he's a big, strong horse and he recovers quick."
Last year, Donato Hanover and Giant Diablo both won races in 1:50.1 on Futurity Day; the fastest trotting miles in harness racing history. The long-range forecast for Lexington calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s on Saturday.
"If you go fast enough to the three-quarters, you've got a shot (at the record)," Schnittker said. "But I'm just basically focused on winning the race."
Following the Futurity, Schnittker's future options for Deweycheatumnhowe include racing in the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs or racing at Vernon Downs, as preps for the Breeders Crown.
"I just want to play it by ear after (the Futurity) and see how he comes out of it with the double heats," Schnittker said. "One good thing is we've got a long break between now and the Breeders Crown, so we should be able to get him ready by then."
(Harness Racing Communications)