Harrah's Philadelphia: Huntsville romps in PASS action

Any doubters after Huntsville was defeated by Fear The Dragon in his last start have to be convinced after he demolished his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes foes in 1:49 on Thursday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia,

Leaving from the outside post seven, driver Tim Tetrick was able to get Huntsville past Highalator and to the front by the opening quarter in 26 3/5. After rating the half in 54 2/5, a 27 2/5 third quarter left the field in his dust.

Well in hand, Huntsville crossed the wire 7-1/4 lengths ahead of Highalator in second. Boogie Shuffle was third.

Huntsville has now won two of three starts in 2017 for trainer/owner Ray Schnittker and fellow owners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Steven Arnold. He is expected to race next in the eliminations for the $1,000,000 North America Cup on June 10 at Mohawk.

Fear The Dragon kicked off the trio of sire stakes races for 3-year-old colts and geldings worth just over $49,000 each with a lifetime best 1:49 1/5 mile, equaling his performance from his last start at Pocono when he defeated Huntsville.

Fear The Dragon sat fourth early for regular driver David Miller before going on the prowl in the third quarter and wearing down a game Ocean Colony by a length. Ozone Blue Chip was third.

Brian Brown trains Fear The Dragon for Emerald Highlands Farm.

Schnittker and Tetrick took home two sire stakes on Thursday as Summer Side made an early brush and dug in nicely to fend off Filibuster Hanover by a length in 1:50 2/5. Machiavelli was third.

In addition to training, Schnittker also co-owns Summer Side, who was recently second in the Art Rooney Final, with Howard Taylor.