Jezzy kept her perfect 2011 record in tact with a victory in the Historic-Coaching Club Trotting Oaks for three-year-old trotting fillies at Tioga Downs on Saturday
night.
Jezzy and Ray Schnittker were heavily favoured in the $75,500 Coaching Club Trotting Oaks from post position No. 8. Schnittker wasted no time putting Jezzy into the early lead and took control of the field through fractions of :29 and :59.
As the field aimed towards three-quarters, Schnittker let Jezzy trot through a :28.2 third quarter with Angelette Hanover (Howard Parker) applying light first over pressure.
Turning for home, Schnittker was a statue in the bike, never asking Jezzy for trot as the duo cruised across the wire in 1:56.2. Angelette Hanover hung on for second, while Cabaret Princess (Marcus Johansson) got up for third.
“[Jezzy] is pretty much push button with stop and go," said Schnittker. "It's like driving a car.”
When asked about the impressive victories of Crys Dream in Canada, Schnittker added, “Well she hasn’t hooked into Jezzy yet.”
The Credit Winner-Ladylind filly is now six-for-six this year and 16-for-17 in her career for Schnittker and co-owners Jerry Silva of Long Beach and Jeffrey Gural and Theodore Gewertz of New York, New York. Her earnings climbed to $480,728.
In the $78,200 Historic-Dickerson Cup for three-year-old trotting colts, Live Jazz showed another glimpse of his impressive form that caught everyone’s eye at Delaware, Ohio last year.
Leaving from post position No. 4, Meittinis rolled Live Jazz to the lead through panels of :28.3, :56.4, and 1:25.3.
As the field turned for home, track announcer Darrin Zocalli said it best, “Live Jazz and Meittinis look for competition, but there is none.”
Meittinis never lifted a line on the three-year-old son of Andover Hall-Limitless Sky, and went on to an open length effortless win in 1:55.4. The mile established a new lifetime mark for Live Jazz, who is trained by Scott Andrews for Ottawa's Melvin Hartman and New Jersey owners Charles Sylvester, Neal Goldman and Juniper Ii LLC.
Whit (Ed Hensley) finished second, while Winuendo (Ray Schnittker) held on to finish third.
The victory was Live Jazz's first in three 2011 starts and fourth of his career, lifting his bankroll over the $100,000 mark.
(With files from Tioga Downs)