Favorite makes history as first undefeated Hambo winner

Deweycheatumnhowe continued his historic march Saturday at the Meadowlands, capturing the 83rd edition of the $1.5 million Hambletonian in wire-to-wire fashion. Guided by trainer Ray Schnittker, Dewey remained undefeated with his 15th consecutive victory in 1:52, becoming the first undefeated Hambletonian champion. Crazed and Tim Tetrick used a two-hole trip to finish a half-length back in second and Make It Happen closed for third.

Starting from the rail, the 2-5 favorite moved to the top spot as Pine After Pine left from post five for Ron Pierce. Crazed and Tetrick, lining up behind the gate second, followed Schnittker, and along with Big Apple Deli (Campbell) kept Ron Pierce from finding a place along the rail for Pine After Pine, who broke stride shortly after. Deweycheatumnhowe reached the quarter in a spirited :26.4 and passed the half mile marker in :55.

The Muscles Yankee colt passed the three quarter mile station in 1:23.2, and in the stretch came under fire from Crazed. Schnittker kept after the colt, which he owns with Theodore Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable, to secure his fifth seasonal victory while shaving two fifths of a second off his lifetime best. The win pushed Dewey’s career earnings to more than $1.95 million.

"About a quarter of the way down the lane, we were trying for all we could go. He [Crazed] was coming; it was a dogfight. I would have rather won by eight [lengths]," Schnittker said. "I have a lot of great partners and a lot of great owners. I had a lot of people pulling for me and wishing me luck - drivers, race secretaries, judges - it was really surprising."

Racing over a track rated “good,” the winning time was the third fastest in Hambletonian history. Glidemaster holds the stakes record with his 1:51.1 performance in the 2006 edition. The 1:51.3 clocking by Self Possessed in the 1999 Hambletonian ranks second.

Meadowlands Publicity Notes
When the stormy skies cleared, a crowd of 25,006 turned out to watch the 83rd Hambletonian won by Deweycheatumnhowe on August 2 at the Meadowlands. The $8,265,660 Hambletonian Day total handle was the third highest in harness history. It marked a slight increase over the 2007 total of $8,219,779 [0.6 percent].

A total of $1,524,115 was wagered on the Hambletonian race itself.

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