Wittyville and Dylan The Great, a pair of trotting colts from the Ron Burke Stable, each captured $15,000 elimination heats of the James K. Hackett Memorial on Tuesday afternoon (April 9) at Miami Valley Raceway.

The talented pair of sophomore trotters, who finished first and third respectively in last season’s $275,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championship, will headline a field of nine that qualified for next Tuesday’s $40,000 Hackett final.

Wittyville, the 2-1 favourite for driver Chris Page, got away fourth in the first split, moved up to second on the outside by the three-quarters station, cleared to the front at the head of the stretch and then held a fast-closing Home Hall at bay by a neck in 1:57.4. Westfiftysecond finished third and Never Say Uncle was fourth to also advance to the Hackett championship tilt.

A son of Manofmanymissions, Wittyville was a $207,153 winner at two and needed just one 2:00 qualifier to prep for his successful Hackett elim after a six-month layoff. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Dylan The Great (Page) was a few ticks faster in the second elim topping Shake N Bake and Mystical Peter in 1:57. Also making his initial 2019 start, the son of Break The Bank K passed the $100,000 earnings plateau with the triumph. Yes made the final with a fourth place finish as did Otsego who qualified with the fastest fifth-place finish.

Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi partner with Lawrence Karr and J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby on Dylan The Great.

Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Friday, April 12 when the Hackett pacing fillies will make their debut, followed by the Hackett pacing colts eliminations on Saturday night.

(Miami Valley Raceway)