New Hampshire Boy headed for Zweig

The New York State Fair stakes continued at Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon with eight divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies worth $209,056. A victory by state-bred standout New Hampshire Boy was a final prep before the $225,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot scheduled for next Sunday, Aug. 19, at the Southern Tier oval.

Trainer Ray Schnittker confirmed that New Hampshire Boy will be entered in the Zweig Memorial Trot, Tioga’s top annual event for sophomore trotters, following the colt’s 1:59.3 mile-cutting win. It was the slowest of the four colt divisions and New Hampshire Boy was never seriously challenged.

“He was good today, he’s definitely going to the Zweig,” said Schnittker, who drove and co-owns the son of Credit Winner with bar proprietor Steve Demeter and veterinarian Herb Burns.

New Hampshire Boy has now won half of his 14 starts this year and finished second in six others for more than $164,000 in earnings this season.

Owners Paul and Pauline Nower had two winners on the card when trainer Bill Bailey steered colt Jack’s Reef to a 1:57.3 victory and filly Nowerland Lightnin to a 1:58.2 score, both setting new career marks.

“It’s not often you can win two on the same day,” said Paul Nower. “Bill has done a great job with these horses and we are proud of them today. We always seem to do well at the State Fair, its lucky for us.”

Jack’s Reef upset 1-5 favorite and pacesetter Hitwiththeladies, who made a brief bobble at the start of the race. Bailey popping out of the pocket at the head of the stretch and soared past his competitor to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

“He was strong today. He just wasn’t good in his last start at Batavia, he should have won (but finished third). Today the other horse made a break and that was the kind of advantage we needed,” said Bailey of his mount.

Conway Court’s 1:58 victory with driver Jim Morrill Jr. pushed the Conway Hall colt’s seasonal earnings over the $100,000 mark. He now has bankrolled $106,437 in his career.

Larry Remmen trains Conway Court, a half brother to Credit Winner, for Paolo Rosanelli and John Sienna.

Morrill directed New York Sire Stakes standouts Bet To Win (1:58.4) and Oh Oh Its Magic (1:57.4) to victories that left them unbeaten in New York-bred events this year.

Colt Bet To Win is also trained by Remmen for owner John Lichtenberger. Carl Gillespie trains the homebred filly Oh Oh Its Magic for Irv and Carolyn Atherton.

Fillies Cocktail Hour (Ivan Davies) and Angie Blue Chip (Morrill) scored in identical 1:57 times for owner Doug Hutchins and co-owners Fred Monteleone and Sal Promuto, respectively.

New York State Fair action continues next weekend, Sunday, Aug. 18, through Monday, Aug. 20. The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot, which will showcase some of the top 3-year-old trotters in the country, will be contested on Sunday, Aug. 19. (HHBNY)

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