WILKES-BARRE PA – Trainer/driver Ray Schnittker shipped in a squadron of three-year-olds who were impressive victors during qualifying events on Wednesday morning at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Fastest of three three-year-old pacing colts that Schnittker guided to wins was the So Surreal colt Hickfromfrenchlick, named after basketball star Larry Bird, who made very pole a winning one in 1:54, last quarter 27. 2¼ lengths behind Hickfromfrenchlick was Shake That House, third in the Metro at two and a ¾ brother to Breeders Crown winner Split The House.
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 last quarter to stop the timer in 1:56.2. Another of Donato Hanover’s offspring was successful – the four-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 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Chris Oakes.