It isn’t often that players get to reap double-digit rewards when Dave Palone drives for trainer Ron Burke, but it happened twice Monday at The Meadows when the duo teamed to sweep both $15,000 second-leg divisions of the Medusa Pace for three-year-old fillies with Sapphire Breeze (14-1) and Beach Club (12-1).
Sapphire Breeze atoned for her break in the series opener when she moved powerfully first over from fourth and had little trouble holding off Terrortina by 1-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:54.1. Emily R Hanover finished third.
Burke Racing Stable, Phillip Collura, Michelle Yanek and Weaver Bruscemi LLC own the daughter of Well Said-Roller Cam.
Beach Club, who hadn’t made the lead at any point in her last three starts, popped right to the front and defeated her stablemate, Make Mine Mocha by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1, a life mark. When Flyme To The Moon finished third it gave Burke a 1-2-3 sweep of the split.
Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC campaign Beach Club, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Sand Speed.
Overall, Palone and Burke teamed for five victories on the 13-race card.
Jim Pantaleano fashioned a three-bagger, including a win with Show Runner in the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace.
(The Meadows)