Trainer/driver Ray Schnittker shipped in a squadron of three-year-olds that were impressive victors during qualifying action on Wednesday morning (April 17) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Fastest of three three-year-old pacing colts that Schnittker guided to wins was the So Surreal colt Hickfromfrenchlick, named after basketball star Larry Bird. Hickfromfrenchlick made very pole a winning one in 1:54, and capped things off with a last quarter in 27. Shake That House finished two and a quarter lengths behind Hickfromfrenchlick. Shake That House, who finished third in the Metro Pace at two, is a three-quarter brother to Breeders Crown winner Split The House.
Branquinho, a maiden who was stakes-placed at two, looked a bit more like a full brother to Huntsville, as the Somebeachsomewhere colt paced in 1:55 with a final quarter in :27.4. One race earlier, Captain Malicious, a Captaintreacherous colt and Sheppard winner, won in 1:55.2 after having closed from third (his own back half and final quarter were clocked in :56.3 and :27.4, respectively).
The fourth Schnittker winner was the sophomore trotting filly Jezzys Legacy, a daughter of Donato Hanover out of the $800K+ winner Jezzy. Jezzys Legacy trotted a :28.1 final quarter to stop the timer in 1:56.2.
Another of Donato Hanover’s offspring notched a win during the session. Four-year-old Whats The Word, who finished second in his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship last year, came out of the pocket sharply to get home first in 1:57 for the Allard brothers.
The fastest mile of the morning session was recorded by the Captaintreacherous filly Blue Ivy. The filly, who was a winner of a Bluegrass division, made two moves to win in 1:53.3 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Chris Oakes.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)