“We knew they were nice, but it’s nice to see them matched up against other people and see that they’re at least decent.”
Ron Burke was happy with all the two-year-olds he sent out for qualifiers Monday morning at Gaitway Farms, and particularly pleased with Muscle Hill-sired trotters Silvia, Southwind Flash, and Southwind Frank.
Burke-trained horses were entered in eight of the qualifiers for two-year-olds, and won seven. Southwind Frank missed by a nose in the final qualifier for the rookies, preventing a sweep. In the same race, stablemate Edinburgh was leading in the stretch but went off stride when several birds on the track took flight in front of him.
Yannick Gingras drove all seven of Burke’s winners on a morning that featured early occasional rain, gusty wind and later sunshine. Horses trained by Julie Miller won the two qualifiers for the two-year-olds that did not go to the Burke Brigade.
Southwind Flash (Muscle Hill-Friendly Amigo) won by 1-3/4 lengths over Miller’s Stayin Strong (Muscles Yankee-Loch Katrine) in 1:58.1 with a :57.1 final half-mile. Southwind Flash, a colt purchased for $85,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, is the first foal out of Friendly Amigo, who was an Ontario standout and captured the 2011 Allerage Farms Mare Trot.
Silvia (Muscle Hill-My Favorite Chip) won by 2-1/2 lengths over Miller’s Best Of Dreams (Donato Hanover-Lunar Dream Om) in 2:01.4 with a final quarter-mile of :29.1. Silvia, a filly purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, is a half-sister to millionaire Adrian Chip, who was second to Donato Hanover in the 2007 Hambletonian.
The colt Southwind Frank (Muscle Hill-Flawless Lindy) trotted his back half in :57 and missed by a nose to Miller’s Staying Focused (Yankee Glide-Raising The Bar), who won in 2:00.1. Southwind Frank was purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale and comes from a family that includes stakes-winners Cayster, Giant Hit, Program Speed, and Rockaroundtheclock.
“All three of the Muscle Hill trotters were very good,” Burke said. “I think Muscle Hill is going to change the breed; they’re just better than other horses.”
Burke’s pacing winners all were sired by Somebeachsomewhere.
The colt Manhattan Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Benear) produced the fastest mile of the day for the two-year-olds, winning by 15-1/4 lengths over Linda Toscano’s Rocket J (Rock N Roll Heaven-Must See) in 1:55.2, back half in :55.4. Manhattan Beach was bought for $100,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is a full brother to 2014 Little Brown Jug winner Limelight Beach.
Rocket J was purchased for $155,000, also at Harrisburg, and is a half-brother to Dan Patch Award winner Well Said. His family also includes $2-million-earner Glowing Report.
JK Will Power (Somebeachsomewhere-Whats New Pussycat), another colt, won by 4-3/4 lengths over Nancy Johansson’s Marcus N Max (American Ideal-Lady Of Lust) in 1:56.1. JK Will Power, purchased for $110,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, is the first foal out of stakes-winner Whats New Pussycat, whose mother was Breeders Crown champion Molly Can Do It.
Viceroy Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere-Vasmajorty Hanover) won by 1-1/4 lengths over Miller’s Headforthebeach (Somebeachsomewhere-Head Of The House) in 1:58.3. Viceroy Hanover, a colt bought for $47,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, is from the same family as millionaire Voelz Hanover.
Burke-trained female pacer Lyons River Pride (Somebeachsomewhere-Mississippi River) won by 3-1/2 lengths over Ivan Llopez’s LL Jackpot (Philos Hanover-Wygant Rose) in 1:57.4 and stablemate East Side Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere-Edra Hanover) won by a half-length over Gerard Malanga’s Sail To The Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Sail Away) in 2:01.2, with a :27.1 final quarter-mile.
“It’s a very good group,” Burke said. “Everybody was super. I’m very happy."
Miller, in addition to winning with Staying Focused, won with female trotter Womans Will (Donato Hanover-Will Of A Woman). She bested Cozette McAvoy’s Zette Starlet (Credit Winner-Scottish Starlet) by 16-1/4 lengths in 1:59, with the final half-mile in :57.1.
Staying Focused was purchased for $47,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is a full brother to stakes-winner Raising Rachel. The family also includes Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winner Casual Breeze.
“We were happy with all of ours that went today,” driver Andy Miller said. “The trotters all stayed at it, that was the main thing, and got some good miles in them.
“The trotting filly, Womans Will, I think she could be like a stakes filly. All four of the trotting colts –- Open Road Hanover, Staying Focused, Stayin Strong and Milligans School –- all performed really good today and did what we asked.”
Also in action Monday morning were Joe Holloway’s three-year-old stakes filly pacers Divine Caroline and Bettor Be Steppin. Divine Caroline won her qualifier in 1:53 and Bettor Be Steppin won her qualifier in 1:52.4.
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.