Pocono: Schnittker trainees excel in qualifiers

Trainer/driver Ray Schnittker shipped in a squadron of 3-year-olds who were impressive victors during qualifying events on Wednesday morning at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Fastest of three 3-year-old pacing colts that Schnittker guided to wins was the So Surreal colt Hickfromfrenchlick, named after basketball star Larry Bird, who made every pole a winning one in 1:54, last quarter 27. Two-and-a-quarter lengths behind Hickfromfrenchlick was Shake That House, third in the Metro at 2 and a three-quarter brother to Breeders Crown winner Split The House.

Branquinho, a maiden who was stakes-placed at 2, looked a bit more like a full brother to Huntsville as the Somebeachsomewhere colt paced in 1:55 – 27 4/5. A race earlier Captain Malicious, a Captaintreacherous colt and Sheppard winner, won in 1:55 2/5, coming from third with his own back fractions of 56 3/5 – 27 4/5.

A fourth Schnittker winner was the sophomore trotting filly Jezzy’s Legacy, a Donato Hanover out of the $800G+ winner Jezzy, who put in a 28 1/5 last quarter to stop the timer in 1:56 2/5. Another of Donato Hanover’s offspring was successful – the 4-year-old Whats The Word, second in his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship last year, who came out of the pocket sharply to get home first in 1:57 for the Allard brothers.

Fastest mile of the a.m. session went to the Captaintreacherous filly Blue Ivy, winner of a Bluegrass division, who made two moves to win in 1:53 3/5 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Chris Oakes.

-edited release (Pocono/PHHA)