East Rutherford, NJ --- Deweycheatumnhowe and Snow White, last year’s 2-year-old trotting champions, make their much-anticipated 2008 debuts on Friday night (June 27) at the Meadowlands.

Deweycheatumnhowe headlines the $79,110 Dickerson Cup (race three) while Snow White tops the field in the $68,110 Coaching Club Trotting Oaks (race five). The stakes are part of the action-packed Grand Circuit Historic Week at the Meadowlands and share the spotlight with the $68,110 Ladyship Stake for sophomore filly pacers.

Driven and trained by Ray Schnittker, Deweycheatumnhowe is the early favorite for the $1.5 million Hambletonian, harness racing’s greatest trotting prize, on Saturday, August 2. The son of Muscles Yankee was undefeated in 10 starts as a freshman and counted the Breeders Crown and Valley Victory finals among his victories. He has earned $936,191 for Schnittker and co-owners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable.

The colt will start from post two in the Dickerson Cup. Five of the other six contenders in the race are also eligible to the Hambletonian: Order By Lincoln, NF Rivertown, Kajan Kooker, Waterstone and Blue York Yankee.

Snow White begins her Hambletonian quest from post six in the Coaching Club Oaks. She became the fastest (1:52.4) and richest ($1,252,646) freshman filly trotter in history in 2007, punctuating her 11-for-13 season with a Breeders Crown trophy. The daughter of Self Possessed underwent tie-back surgery, which can correct breathing difficulties, at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in March. She sports two winning qualifiers, 1:56.3 and 1:55.3, going into her 2008 debut.

Historic Week shines the spotlight on 2-year-old colts on Thursday night with three divisions of the $107,698 Harriman Cup for trotters and two divisions of the $84,100 Goshen Cup for pacers.

The $200,000 Titan Cup and $61,700 Jersey Cup cap the week of stakes Saturday night. After an impressive win last week, Arch Madness looms as the one to beat in the Titan Cup (race nine) for older trotters. Space Ghost takes his next step on the road to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace (July 19) in the $61,700 Jersey Cup (race three). The Mark Silva trainee won the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship in his last start.

Road To The Meadowlands Pace – June 25, 2008

Each week, Bob Heyden ranks the contenders for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday, July 19.

Rank, Horse, Driver, Trainer, Owner, Bob Heyden’s comments
1, Somebeachsomewhere, Paul MacDonell, Brent McGrath, Schooner Stables. Took the week off following 1:49 wins in NA Cup elim and final. No horse has come into the Pace undefeated and left that way.

2, Badlands Nitro, Brian Sears, George Teague, Jr. John Celii and Teague Inc. NA Cup runner-up heads back to U.S. for Rooney elims at Yonkers this weekend.

3, Up Front Hannahsboy, Aaron Merriman, Jim Arledge, Jr. Ed Mullinax. Stormed to 5-1/4 length, 1:52.4 win in driving rains at Northfield in Cleveland Classic division. Mullinax: “He’s the fastest horse I've ever owned." Strong words considering sire Dragon Again ($2 million) had seven sub-1:50 wins.

4, Sand Shooter, David Miller, Jim Arledge, Jr. Bill Sanders and Jerry Silva. Second half of a nice potential Meadowlands Pace 1-2 punch for Arledge. The home cookin' is what this guy prefers and he's now back on his own turf looking to pick up where he left off in 2007.

5, Santanna Blue Chip, Jody Jamieson, Carl Jamieson, C. Jamieson, 1140545 Ontario Ltd, J. Gillis, and George Arthur Stb. Took a week off after finishing third in NA Cup. Next up: Rooney elims at Yonkers.

6, Art Official, Tyler Buter, Joe Seekman, Sawgrass Farms LLC. Rebounded from disappointing seventh in NA Cup with easy 1:50.1 romp in Hanover Stakes at Balmoral Park last week.

7, Deuce Seelster, John Campbell, Darren McCall, Katherine Bardis. No one needs to regroup more. Gas tank was empty at five-eighths-mile pole in NA Cup. Finished second after cutting the mile in an Ontario Sire Stake last week.

8, Blueridge Western, Dave Palone, Mickey Burke, George Leon. Berry’s Creek winner dominated in 1:53 with a :27.4 final quarter on wet surface at Northfield in Cleveland Classic division.

9, Scape Ghost, Mark MacDonald, Mark Silva, Rodney Mitchell. Won $175,000 NJSS final, now looks for third straight Big M win in Jersey Cup on Saturday. Brian Sears: “He’s the type of horse who can make some noise in the Meadowlands Pace.”

10, Dali, Luc Ouellette, Duane Marfisi, Uncirculated Stable. Hasn’t raced since eighth in NA Cup. Still time to work out the kinks.