FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) -If there is strength in numbers, trainer Ray Schnittker's stable could be a powerful force on the road to Hambletonian.

Schnittker has a deep stable of 3-year-old trotters, three of which will be in action in Saturday's $156,000 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway.

The Dexter Cup is the season's first major stakes race for the age group and all of Schnittker's entries are eligible to the $1.5 million Hambletonian, the division's top prize, on Aug. 7 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

``I've got a good group,'' said Schnittker, who trained and drove Deweycheatumnhowe to victory in the Hambletonian in 2008. ``They were real nice as 2-year-olds and have come back good. It's probably for sure my deepest group. It's probably as deep as most people ever have. They're all very nice colts.''

Leading the way is stakes-winner Shaq Is Back, who on May 1 won the Dexter Cup elimination by 3 1/2 lengths over Senor Glide in 1:57.2.

The top three finishers from the elimination - Shaq Is Back, Senor Glide and Mamas Boo Bear - joined Big Stick Lindy, Celebrity Blue Chip, Flex The Muscle, Indefensible and Take My Picture, who all received byes, in the final.

Big Stick Lindy and Flex The Muscle also are part of the Schnittker Stable.

``I've got a good threesome going in there,'' said Schnittker, who has won the Dexter Cup four times, most recently with A Rod in 2006 and Lindy Five Hundred in 2005.

Schnittker will drive Big Stick Lindy while George Brennan will drive Shaq Is Back and David Miller will handle Flex The Muscle. Brennan has won the Dexter Cup three times, including victories with A Rod and Lindy Five Hundred for Schnittker.

Trainer Jimmy Takter, who won the last two Dexters, will send out stakes-winner Senor Glide on Saturday.

The field in post position order with drivers is:

Indefensible, Ron Pierce; Celebrity Bluechip, Tim Tetrick; Take My Picture, Cat Manzi; Flex The Muscle, Miller; Shaq Is Back, Brennan; Mamas Boo Bear, Steve Smith; Senor Glide, Daniel Dube and Big Stick Lindy, Schnittker.

All but Indefensible and Mamas Boo Bear are eligible to the Hambletonian.