Hambletonian elims go to Cassis, Chucky and Taj

Ray Schnittker is well-poised to make harness racing history after Cassis won the fastest of three $70,000 Hambletonian eliminations on Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.  

Schnittker will try to become the first trainer to win the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and $1.5 million Hambletonian in the same year on Saturday, August 7.  His colt One More Laugh upset Rock N Roll Heaven by a head in the Pace on July 17, giving Schnittker his second million-dollar victory in two years.  He won the 2008 Hambletonian with Deweycheatumnhowe.

Cassis cleared the lead from Temple Of Doom at the quarter, easily repelled Pretty Boy Lindy around the second turn and drew off to a 1 ¼-length victory in 1:52.4.  Temple Of Doom held on for second, while Wishing Stone closed from far back to finish third.  On The Tab, who skimmed the pylons the whole way, also advanced to the Hambletonian final as the richest fourth-place finisher.  Cassis, driven by Tim Tetrick, was sent off the favorite and paid $4.80 to win.  

“He’s very game,” Tetrick said.  “He trotted all the way through the wire, he was very strong and Ray made a few [equipment] changes and I think it really helped.  He earned a spot in there and we had a fast elimination and I’m very happy going into the big race next week.”

Cassis has won eight of 10 starts this season for Schnittker and co-owners Kelk’s Inc., Arden Homestead Stable and Jerry Silva.  

“I think we’re looking real good [entering the final],” Schnittker said.  “We won our elimination in the fastest time.  He’s been racing a lot, but he’s coming in really strong.  I’ve got a good chance of winning.  He’s no Dewey, that’s for sure, but he’s real nice to drive, real handy and hopefully we get a good trip next week.” 

Lucky Chucky, the reigning divisional champion, easily wore down Holiday Road to win the second of the evening’s three eliminations.  However, his trip to the winner’s circle was briefly delayed as trainer Chuck Sylvester was overcome with emotion.  

“Right at the end [of the race], I was hugging people and I got a little light-headed and down I went,” Sylvester said.  “I’m okay, I’m fine.

“I thought once we got away third it was going to have to be first over,” Sylvester continued.  “When John pulled him, it looked like he got right up to [Holiday Road] and as he got off the turn it looked like we might wear him down and we did.  I like our chances [in the final].  He’s feeling good, he’s sharp.”

Lucky Chucky trotted a career best 1:53.1 as he posted his first victory of the year in rein to John Campbell.  Mystery Photo edged Holiday Road off a ground-saving journey for second.  Lucky Chucky has now won 10 of 15 career starts and $741,621 for Sgs Partners, Perretti Racing Stable and Lindy Racing Stable.

“I thought he was going into the race really sharp and he could build off his last start,” Campbell said.  “He finished his last start really strong.  He just couldn’t have been any better tonight and we’re very happy with him going into the Hambletonian.  The horse is going in as good as he possibly can.”  

Sylvester and Campbell have a combined 10 Hambletonian trophies to their credit.  They teamed for two of those victories, with Mack Lobell in 1987 and Muscles Yankee in 1998. 

Pilgrims Taj showed immediate improvement in his first start for trainer Trond Smedshammer as he won the first of the three eliminations in 1:53.3.  With Mike Lachance in tow, Pilgrims Taj closed from second over to best Muscle Massive by a half length.  Hard Livin finished third off a pocket trip behind the pacesetter Flex The Muscle to also advance to the final.

The 2-year-old Breeders Crown champion entered Smedshammer’s barn less than two weeks ago after a pair of disappointing efforts in the Stanley Dancer Memorial and a 3-year-old open.  Pilgrims Taj posted his third win in six starts this season for the ownership of Bob Bongiorno, Val D’Or, Bix Di Meo and Pilgrims Taj Stable.  The son of Broadway Hall-Woman Of Means has 10 wins in 15 career starts and is closing in on $850,000 in earnings.

“We changed everything pretty much,” Smedshammer said.  “You know we only had a week and a half to work with him and I wasn’t sure, but just hoping he was going to be good enough to get through the next week.  Obviously, there’s room for more improvement.  Overall, I think he’s going to be back to the horse you saw last year.”  

Elimination winners will select their post positions for the final at a live draw and press conference on Wednesday, August 4.

Poof She’s Gone improved her record to four wins in eight starts this season for trainer Richard Norman and owners Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee and John Fielding.  Lifetime, the daughter of Kadabra-Travelin Superlite has won 14 of 20 starts and $1.2 million.

“She’s not 100 percent healthy coming out of Canada [she was second in the Canadian Breeders final],” Norman said. “So, she had a pretty easy week.  When the brakes come off, she seems to like it that way. I was really pleased that she got the job done.”

Springtime Volo closed in on the field at three-quarters and challenged Southwind Samurai four wide in the lane to win the second Oaks elimination in 1:54.3 for driver George Brennan and trainer Jan Johnson.  Southwind Samurai broke stride at the finish line but remained second by the judges’ ruling that she complied with the breaking rule.  In The Mean Time closed late to finish third.  Fashion Feline also advanced to the Oaks final as the richest fourth-place finisher overall.

Unraced since May, Boinga blew out in the final lengths of the stretch to win the third Hambletonian Oaks elimination in 1:54.4 for the team of Ron Pierce and Brian Roland.  Behindclosedoors shook loose in the stretch to finish second, while the pacesetting favorite Ultimate Cameron held third. (Meadowlands)