Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke came loaded for bear on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card at Harrah’s Philadelphia, sweeping the four features on the card.

Front-ending in the featured $16,200 event was the Father Patrick gelding Patriarch Hanover, who stepped home in :57.2 to complete a 1:55.2 victory, with $800,000-winning pocket-sitter Fashion Creditor 1-1/4 lengths behind while holding the deuce in a photo with the late-flying Baldaquin.

A six-figure winner at two, three, and four, Patriarch Hanover now sports a bankroll of $382,326 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Bill Switala and James Martin.

Also using the pacesetting position as a springboard to victory was the Kadabra sophomore trotting colt Tokyo Seelster, who joined the Burke Brigade in early November and here sped home in :57 to lower his lifetime mark to 1:54.3 in 38 degree temperatures. The winner of $216,747 withstood determined favourite Redwhite N Goo by three-quarters of a length for owners by Michael and Sam Sergi in one of two $15,300 co-features.

The only member of the victorious Team Gingras-Burke quartet who did not control the throttle was the Guccio gelding Bluebird Rocky, who circled wide from second-over late on the far turn then ran down leader Bountiful Britney by a length in 1:55.3 in the other $15,300 co-headliner. Bluebird Rocky is yet another member of the profitable partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Gingras and Burke also took the sub-feature for the fast-class set, a $13,000 contest, with local newcomer Hat Trick Marleau (who completed a “natural hat trick” for the duo that was fronted by Tokyo Seelster and Patriarch Hanover). The Crazed gelding took a new mark of 1:55.1, also using the front end then holding off pocket-sitter Wings Of Speed by three-quarters of a length. Gingras also co-owns the winner with Frank Canzone.

Gingras wound up with five winners on the card all together, while Burke’s four-bagger puts him 21 ahead with five cards to go in 2021 as he goes for his ninth training title in the 16-year history of the track.

(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)