Burke Trainees Dominate Gaitway Farm Baby Races

Frantic Hanover at Gaitway Farm

Gaitway Farm hosted its third and final session of qualifiers for two-year-olds on Wednesday, June 25 with trainer Ron Burke winning six of the seven events for the freshmen, including a 1:52.4 victory by pacing colt Frantic Hanover.

Frantic Hanover (Stay Hungry-Francessa) finished third in his only previous qualifier, timed in 1:56 on June 11. On Wednesday, he had the lead at the half-mile point and scooted home in :54.2 from there, with a :26.3 last quarter for driver Tim Tetrick.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, the colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Brad Grant, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi. Frantic Hanover was purchased for $48,611 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His family includes 2017 U.S. Pacer of the Year Downbytheseaside.

Al Papi (Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy) notched his second win in as many tries with a 1:53.2 score for driver Yannick Gingras. The homebred pacing colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi.

Other second-time winners for the Burke Brigade were pacing filly Kissedbyastranger (Tall Dark Stranger-Kissinyougoodbye) in 1:55.4, trotting colt Maga Hill (Muscle Hill-Goo Doo Doll) in 1:56.2 and trotting filly No Promises (Tactical Landing-Its Hallright) in 1:56.4.

Rounding out the group of victors for Burke was pacing filly Im A Lou Lou (Sweet Lou-Benear) in 1:55.1. She previously was second in 1:55.4 on June 18. Benear was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame as a broodmare. Im A Lou Lou is a half-sister to millionaire Limelight Beach as well as stakes winners Manhattan Beach and Momas Got A Gun.

Pacing colt Riddle Me (Papi Rob Hanover-Sudoku) prevented a Burke sweep, winning in 1:53.4 for trainer/driver Joe Bongiorno.

To view Wednesday's qualifying results, click here.

 A replay of Wednesday’s qualifiers, courtesy of The First Mile, is available below.

(USTA; photo of Frantic Hanover taken previously)

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