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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

SCHNITTKER TRIO TAKES AIM AT GREEN ACRES FINAL

By Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ
  
MANALAPAN, NJ – September 16, 2014 – Three of the six entrants in the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stake – Green Acres Final for two-year-old trotting colts will carry the banner of trainer Ray Schnittker on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Freehold Raceway.

Schnittker will handle Broken Record, who leaves from post six while Jack Baggitt Jr. gets the call on Cruizinwithmuscles and Steve Smith will pilot Switchblade Hall in the non-wagering event scheduled for 12:10 p.m.

All three of the Schnittker trainees are sons of Muscles Yankee, who sired five of the six finalists.  Mountain Top, who won the first leg of the Green Acres, is by Muscle Hill, a son of Muscles Yankee.  He is trained and driven by Francisco Del Cid. 

Broken Record is the richest of the six trotters with earnings of $47,013 thanks to three wins, one second and three thirds in eight starts.  He posted a mark of 2:00.1 in the second leg of the Green Acres when he won by 27 ½ lengths over the Julie Miller-trained Firestop. 

With Broken Record sitting out the third leg of the Green Acres, it was left to Switchblade Hall to collect top money.  Cruizinwithmuscles was fourth in the first leg and third in both the second and third legs.

The field for the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres Final [from the rail out with driver and trainer]: Cruizinwithmuscles, Jack Baggitt Jr., Ray Schnittker; Wolfpack Muscle, David Pinkney Jr., Colleen Chambers; Switchblade Hall, Steve Smith, Ray Schnittker; Firestop, Eric Abbatiello, Julie Miller; Mountain Top, Francisco Del Cid, Francisco Del Cid and Broken Record, Ray Schnittker, Ray Schnittker.

A $7,000 opening leg of the Green Acres for three-year-old pacing fillies, will be the second of two non-wagering events with a quartet of entrants: Fiyonce, Fanticipation, Ideal Helen and Mona Mona.  Ideal Helen is by Western Ideal while the other three are daughters of Rocknroll Hanover.

Trotting fillies will be featured in second leg Green Acres events on Friday, September 19.

In the sixth race for two-year-old trotting fillies, first leg winner Model Behavior [Muscles Yankee] will face off against Contraire [Muscles Yankee], Prinsessa [Muscle Hill], Showy Starlet [Muscles Yankee], Shes On Fire [Muscle Hill], Starter Up [Muscles Yankee] and Demons N Diamonds [Muscle Hill].


Only a trio of three-year-old trotting fillies will meet in a non-wagering event at 12:15 p.m. in a rematch of the opening leg won by Shelikescandy [Chocolatier], who has the rail.  Runner-up Revergreen [Revenue] drew post three.  Coin Collector [Chocolatier], who was third last week, leaves from post two.