Batavia: Schnittker rookies go two-for-three in New York Sire Stakes

Trainer Ray Schnittker picked up victories in two of the three $34,866 New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings that took place on Sunday afternoon at Batavia Downs. The other split went to Blake MacIntosh-trained Groovy Joe, who is now perfect in five career starts.

Cigars And Port was the first Schnittker horse to visit the winner's circle, taking the second section in 1:55 3/5.

He was able to work around Genius Man (Brent Holland) for the front going to the 28 second opening quarter, then when Genius Man attempted to re-move to the front, he was denied and forced back into the pocket. After rebuffing Genius Man, Cigars And Port would go on to hit the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 2/5, and a 29 1/5 final quarter got him a 2 3/4 length win over Roll With Jr (Kevin Cummings). Freedom Warrior (Jason Bartlett) overcame an early break to get third.

Schnittker also co-owns Cigars And Port, a So Surreal-Sweet On Art colt, with partners Nolamaura Racing LLC., Ted Gewertz, and Steve Arnold. Cigars And Port, who was bred by Steve Jones and sold for $8,000 at the Goshen Yearling Sale, has won twice from four tries, and he has earned $51,383. He was the 5-2 third choice and paid $7.50 to win.

Teton Sunset provided Schnittker with his other sire stakes score as Tyler Buter guided him to a 1:57 1/5 triumph in the finale.

Teton Sunset got away well and led on the first turn, but Oreo Dream Xtreme (Bartlett) came on to take the top spot going to the 28 4/5 first quarter. Oreo Dream Xtreme would back down the half to just 59 1/5, but Level Up (Jim Morrill Jr.) commenced a first-up move from fifth past the marker and moved into contention at the 1:28 2/5 three-quarters.

Oreo Dream Xtreme and Level Up hooked up in a battle around the far turn and into the lane, but Teton Sunset tipped out three-high in the stretch and blew by both of them, pulling away to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Oreo Dream Xtreme wound up second, with Level Up third.

This was the first career win for Teton Sunset, an American Ideal-Gray Ghost colt bred and owned by Schnittker, David Pepin, and Flintlock Farms Inc. Tenon Sunset, racing as part of a 5-2 Schnittker entry, returned $7.40 to win.

Back in the opening flight, Groovy Joe (Matt Kakaley) worked out a pocket trip behind Sandy's Bolt (Morrill Jr.) through stations of 28 1/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26 3/5, angled out for the drive, and was up to win by a neck in 1:55. American Rebel (Buter) rallied nicely for second, and Sandy's Bolt had to settle for third.

Groovy Joe is a Roll With Joe-Chotat Milk colt co-owned by MacIntosh and Hutt Racing Stable. Groovy Joe, who was bred by Winbak Farm and fetched $17,000 at the Goshen Yearling Sale, has banked $96,795 to go with his unblemished five-for-five record. Dispatched as the 1-2 choice, Groovy Joe paid $3.10 to win.