As exciting as the match race to decide the winner was, the action leading up to it may have been even more intriguing than the actual match race itself.

Several leavers created lots of early action and plenty of early concern for fans of "Dewey" in the $273,600 first heat. Schnittker tucked the World Champion trotter in ninth as they trotted around the first turn and off the opening quarter in 27.1. Schnittker remained in ninth as rival Crazed (Tim Tetrick) was up to grab command past the half in 55.1, a lead that he would maintain through three-quarters in 1:24.1. "Dewey" had made his way up to only trail by six lengths, but was four-wide in eighth as the field rolled off three-quarters and entered the stretch drive. The early leaders, Crazed and Define the World (Paul Mac Donell), began to shorten strides at mid-stretch which allowed for a wild stretch drive with several unleashing furious rallies. In the end, it was "Dewey" on the far outside and Clerk Magistrate (Trevor Ritchie) just inside of him that hit the wire together in 1:52.3.

It took several minutes for the judges to examine a very tight photograph and declare Deweycheatumnhowe the winner, much to the pleasure of the packed house that had gathered on this beautiful day for racing. "Dewey" returned $3.40 to his many backers with the victory, and more importantly was granted the rail position for the upcoming second heat. Clerk Magistrate was assigned post two after finishing second, while Make It Happen (Brian Sears) finished third to nab post three.

Celebrity Secret (John Campbell), who finished sixth in the first heat, fired out to take the early lead in the $273,600 second heat, with Clerk Magistrate dropping in second. Schnittker got away in third with "Dewey," and would wait patiently before challenging with a first-over move around the final turn. Celebrity Secret was back up to take the lead in the stretch drive, first fending off the challenge from "Dewey," and fending off a stubborn Crazed all the way to the wire in an identical 1:52.3.

The second heat upset by Celebrity Secret set up a $136,800 winner-take-all match race with "Dewey" in the final contest of 2008 in Lexington.

Schnittker eased "Dewey" up to the gate at the start of the race and was very content to sit behind Celebrity Secret no matter the fractions. Campbell had the son of Yankee Glide well rated off three-quarters with a length advantage in 1:33.1, setting up an all out stretch duel. Schnittker tipped "Dewey" out to challenge, oddly enough as the even-money second choice, and the son of Muscles Yankee responded with a 26.1 final panel, edging 1-5 favorite Celebrity Secret by a head in 1:59.3. The overall win in the third jewel of trotting's Triple Crown pushed the World Champion's earnings over the $3 million mark.

Gabe Prewitt, The Red Mile