Deweycheatumnhowe wins by 6 1/4 in 1:55.2 mile at Vernon Downs

The acclaimed Deweycheatumnhowe showed why he's considered one of the Standardbred sport's top trotters of all time after a titillating 1:55.2 triumph in a special $20,000 Open test for 3-5 year olds at Vernon Downs on Friday night.

Part-owner, trainer and driver Ray Schnittker did the teaming in Friday's eighth event as Deweycheatumnhowe idled in fourth off the starting gate as Butterscotch Swirl took the select five-horse field to the quarter in :28.4.  Sensing a slower pace than he wanted for his superb sophomore colt, Schnittker moved the long-striding son of Muscles Yankee first-over entering the backstretch and into the lead at the half, timed in :58.4.  The career winner of more than $3 million powered past the third station in 1:27 en route to a 6 1/4-length triumph over Magic.  He came his final quarter in :28.2.

Having established a 1:54 track record for his age, sex and gait while capturing a $30,000 Open event here on August 15, Deweycheatumnhowe earned his second local score and 12^th tally in 14 season starts, while lifting his 2008 earnings to $2,158,987 for Schnittker and his partners, Theodore Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable.  His lifetime summary line now stands at 22-1-1 after 24 official trips to the track.

"Dewey raced three tough heats at Lexington to capture the Kentucky Futurity and this was his first start back after an extended layoff," Schnittker explained after the race, which was billed as a final prep for the brilliant youngster's Breeders Crown challenge next month.  "I not sure if it's nervousness, or what, but this horse seems to be better when he races than in a workout mile, so I wanted to race him from behind this evening, hoping for a mile around 1:55.

"The pace was a little slow around the first turn, so I had to pull him (to the outside) a little earlier than I wanted, but he responded enthusiastically and ended up going just about where I wanted him to," Schnittker added.  "He raced real well off the layoff and finished sound, so it was a good effort.  I might qualify him at Gaitway Farms in a couple of week, but we'll see.  He really doesn't have anything else to prove, but I'd like to add the Breeders Crown trophy to his list of 2008 accomplishments before he's finished racing." 

In other Friday action, the Purple Haze Stable's super sophomore filly Delightful Diva delivered a solid 1:54.2 score in the week's top division of the Miracle Mile class for female pacers.  Howard Okusko Jr. drove for his wife, trainer Jessica Okusko, as the brown daughter of Bettor's Delight chalked up her second win in succession, fourth at the meet and sixth this season, while raising her lifetime winnings to more than $123,500.

Top dash-winning driver Josh Marks (114 tallies) and Chris Lems (72 scores) each earned doubles during Friday's nine-race program. (Vernon Downs)

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