Talk of Atlanta heading over to compete in the Elitlopp has surfaced in recent weeks, and her new trainer, Ron Burke, has discussed what he has decided for the superstar trotting mare.
On Monday (May 13), Burke told harnessracing.com that despite interest from officials at Solvalla Racetrack in Sweden to bring the United States’ 2018 Trotter of the Year to race in the May 26 Elitlopp, he has decided against sending Atlanta.
The horseman referenced the arduous travel arrangements Buck I St Pat faced in 2009 when Burke shipped her overseas to compete in the Elitlopp (she went on to finish seventh in the elim and did not advance to the same-day final). Burke explained that he decided to not send Atlanta after he was unable to find direct travel to Stockholm for the mare.
“The circumstances just didn’t fit for her,” said Burke. “Do I want to go next year? Yes, for sure. This year, I just felt like nothing would have worked out right. If it wasn’t a perfect situation I didn’t really want to go.”
Atlanta won her 2019 debut on May 6 at Miami Valley by cruising to a seven and three-quarter-length win in a track record 1:50.4 in the $100,000 Miami Valley Distaff.
Burke said Atlanta will make her next start in Saturday’s opening round of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands Racetrack, where she will take on male competition. Atlanta, while in the barn of trainer Rick Zeron last year, bested her male peers in the Hambletonian on the way to divisional and Trotter of the Year honours in the United States.
“She’ll race in the Graduate and then we’ll go from there,” said Burke.
Burke (third from left) pictured with Atlanta after her May 6, 2019 win.
(With files from harnessracing.com)