Schnittker dominates Sire Stakes action at Buffalo

Schnittker dominates Sire Stakes action at Buffalo
Thursday, July 08, 2010 - by Sam Pendolino, publicity director, Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY --- There were five New York Sire Stakes races for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday night (July 7) and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker won four of them. Three races were valued at $27,442, while the other two were worth $26,942.

He started the night off by guiding Allister Stables' Sweet Possession, a Conway Hall-Northernpossession offspring, to her first pari-mutuel win in 2:04.3.

“Her mom was a (1):54 trotter,” said Schnittker. “I got a really nice two-hole trip and she was strong in the lane.”

Paul White photo
Epona Blue Chip was one of four NYSS winners for Ray Schnittker.

His second win came aboard the $100,000 Harrisburg purchase Carme Blue Chip, whose 2:04 clocking tied the fastest trotting mile of the night. Owned by the Carme Stables, this Credit Winner filly, out of the Sir Taurus mare Sir Dream, also won for the first time this year. Another two-hole trip, along with a :29.4 last quarter-mile, put the winner a head in front of Imageofasweetday (John Stark, Jr.) at the wire.

The easiest win came with Jezzy, an 8-3/4 length winner who just won the $82,800 Acorn Stakes at the Meadowlands in 1:57.3, with a :26.4 last quarter-mile. Jezzy, a Credit Winner-Ladylind filly, shot right to the lead from post two and had things her own way, setting all the fractions, :32.2, 1:04.1, and 1:35.1, finishing off the mile in 2:04.1. Schnittker owns a piece of Jezzy along with Tioga-Vernon owner Jeff Gural and Ted Gewertz. Tap Tap Dance (Dan Daley) came in second.

Epona Blue Chip capped off the grand slam for Schnittker, winning by a half-length over Steuben Loretta (Claude Huckabone, Jr.) in the night’s fastest time, 2:04. An $80,000 Harrisburg purchase, Epona Blue Chip is a Conway Hall-Hustle N Muscle freshman, who also won for the first time this year.

Gates Brunet guided Some Girls (Conway Hall-Emotional Rescue) to her first win of the year in the only Sire Stakes race that Team Schnittker didn’t win. The four length victory over hometown favorite Limerick Lightning (Dave McNeight, Jr.) went in a season’s best 2:04.1.

Racing will resume on Friday, July 9, with first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m.