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Deweycheatumnhowe is early betting favorite for the Hambletonian
By Matt Hladik
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Friday, Aug 01, 2008
When Deweycheatumnhowe goes behind the starting gate Saturday in harness racing's premier event, he will be aiming to make history.
Driven by Ray Schnittker, who also co-owns and trains the 3-year-old colt, Dewey will look to become the first undefeated winner of the Hambletonian in the 83-year history of the race.
Post time for the $1.5 million race will be 2 p.m. at Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. NBC will provide coverage.
''He's a very strong horse, he has no real weaknesses,'' Schnittker said. ''You can drive him with two fingers.''
Installed as an overwhelming 2-5 choice, Dewey is the shortest morning-line favorite in more than two decades.
A perfect 14-for-14 in his two-year career, Dewey has amassed more than $1.2 million in earnings. Not bad for a horse that was purchased for a mere $80,000 three years ago.
''He's awesome, just an unbelievable horse,'' Tim Tetrick said of Deweycheatumnhowe. Tetrick will be driving 5-1 morning-line second choice Crazed.
''He looks and drives like a Cadillac, and that makes Ray's job a lot easier.''
The unbelievable is quickly becoming routine for Dewey. Orphaned as a 6-week-old foal, he was left to fend for himself in a field with other young horses.
''It's a little unusual,'' said Steve Jones, who bred Dewey. ''I talked to my veterinarian, Dr. Janet Durso, and we made the decision to just let him go and see how he made out.''
He made out fine, not only surviving on his own but thriving as well. That makes Schnittker feel his colt is ready to stand up to the challenge of the Hambletonian and the added pressure of an undefeated record.
''He can handle adversity,'' said Schnittker.
''His first six races were all on off-tracks, and even when he won the Valley Victory at Woodbine, the conditions were brutal.''
Dewey will not be alone in being tested Saturday. In his first drive as the Hambletonian favorite, Schnittker will be up against four drivers who have won the event. John Campbell (six), Mike Lachance (four), Ron Pierce (two) and Trevor Ritchie (one) have combined for 13 victories at the Hambletonian. Campbell, the leading money-earning driver of all time, holds the record for most Hambletonian wins as a driver.
When asked about the pressure he faces driving the heavy favorite, Schnittker (who finished third in two previous Hambletonians with 40-1 shots) did not back down from the challenge.
''I hope I'm a 2-5 favorite every year; better that than 40-1,'' he said. ''I always dreamed about it [the Hambletonian], but I never thought I'd do this good.
''I want to win it a bunch of times.''
Matt Hladik is a senior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. He wrote this article as part of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop.
When Deweycheatumnhowe goes behind the starting gate Saturday in harness racing's premier event, he will be aiming to make history.
Get the full article here.
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