Ron Burke trainees swept the $111,111 Kentucky Championship Series divisions on Sunday, Aug. 24 at The Red Mile with Winnpanzee proving best after a step up in the sophomore filly trot split and Harrisburg Heist headlining a stablemate exactor in the dash for three-year-old male pacers.

Winnpanzee, driven by Yannick Gingras, parlayed a pocket trip into her second victory in three starts for Burke since joining his contingent before her Aug. 3 start. Leaving from the inner post, Winnpanzee sat second as favoured Torrisi (Tim Tetrick) assumed command from post four. The latter filly established splits of :28.4, :56.3, and 1:24.4 prior to Winnpanzee being given the green light as the field of seven headed for the final bend. As Torrisi fought on against first-over Stash Some Cash (Dave Miller) on the final turn, Winnpanzee left her pocket position, shifted to the outside, and trotted home in :27 while sprinting past her competition to win by 2-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:52. Torrisi held second with Voguish (Andrew McCarthy) third.

Bred by Ola Yoder, Winnpanzee is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Brad Grant, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The filly was winless in five starts as freshman but broke her maiden in May and is four-for-11 this year. She collected her first win in Championship Series company after two starts in the Commonwealth Series. The filly has banked $159,084 lifetime with three wins in 15 outings. She provided her supporters with $12.64 at the windows as the fourth choice.

Harrisburg Heist's victory was by a tighter margin, but he also visited the winner’s circle in his first trip to the Championship Series as he defeated fellow Burke trainee Captain Arturovico by a head. 

Gingras put the pedal to the metal with Harrisburg Heist from post six in the field of eight, and the gelding led his rivals through an opening quarter in :27.3. Gingras was content to let off the gas and allow Captain Arturovico (Dexter Dunn) to take control through a half in :55.2. Crack Shot (Doug McNair) unloaded from third to move first-up through three-quarters in 1:23.1 with Harrisburg Heist waiting in the pocket. Harrisburg Heist got room at the cones down the lane and unleashed a final quarter of :26.1 to out-sprint Captain Arturovico and Crack Shot and win in 1:49.4. Crack Shot came home third.

Bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz, Harrisburg Heist is by Downbytheseaside and is the seventh foal out of Cashaway. The gelding is a half sibling to Queen Of Success (Captaintreacherous, $460,106) and Diamondsnpearls (Captaintreacherous, $140,059). Harrisburg Heist won his third consecutive race following victories in a Commonwealth Series event on Aug. 3 and a leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes on Aug. 16 at Scioto Downs. The gelding has a resume of 21-8-3-3 and $331,964 in his bank account. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., Phillip Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Harrisburg Heist returned $10.38 to win as the second choice.

The 15-race card, sponsored by Crawford Farms, also featured two $41,667 third-round divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, four $20,833 third-leg splits of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and three $13,889 third-round groups of the Kentucky Wildcat Series.

Dexter Dunn and Delray Beach ($20.52) cut the mile to take Commonwealth Series contest for three-year-old male pacers in 1:51.1 for trainer Nancy Takter. Favourite Strangerinthenight (Scott Zeron) missed by a nose in second, and Boomerang (Tetrick) was third. Delray Beach is now six-for-22 lifetime. The son of Tall Dark Stranger out of Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Idyllic Beach has amassed $201,687 in purse money. He is a full brother to the freshman filly Bahama Momma, who is a top competitor in the Championship Series. The gelding is owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Morrison Racing Stables.

Andy Miller and Best Story Ever ($13.54) staved off the late advance of favoured Kadena (Andrew McCarthy) by a nose in 1:52.1 to win the Commonwealth Series event for sophomore filly trotters. Best Friends Girl (Dave Miller) rounded out the trifecta. Trained by Julie Miller, Best Story Ever is a daughter of Chapter Seven-Nixie Volo. The clocking was a lifetime best for the filly, who improved her record to 11-4-0-2 and her bankroll to $95,183. The filly is owned by Wiesman Farms LLC, Andy Miller Stable Inc., and Carmen Iannacone.

Trainer Noel Daley recorded a stakes hat trick as three of his trainees scored in the lower-level events. The first was Googoo Goddess ($3.86), who crushed in the second Wildcat Series division for three-year-old filly trotters in 1:53.4 with Andrew McCarthy in the bike. Daley and McCarthy were right back in the winner's circle after the next race as Esme ($44.38) upset with a narrow victory in the second three-year-old trotting filly split of the Golden Rod in 1:53. Daley completed his triple as Misspanzee ($5.16), steered by Scott Zeron, surged down the stretch to capture the third sophomore distaff trot division of the Golden Rod in 1:54. The 2024 Dan Patch Trainer of the Year reached 94 wins on the season with Sunday's performance, matching his total from last year. 

Belmont (Dunn, $3.82) took the other Golden Rod division for sophomore filly trotters in 1:53. Fusion (Todd McCarthy, $4.10) was in the winner’s circle for the sole division of the series for three-year-old male pacers after a 1:50.4 mile.

Naughty Naughty (Dave Miller, $3.22) won the first Wildcat division for three-year-old filly trotters in 1:56.1. Got Bourbon (Todd McCarthy, $3.96) proved best in the division for sophomore male pacers in 1:51.1.

On Tuesday, Brandon Blvd will line up against six freshman male pacers in the $80,000 USD fourth leg of the Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile with perfection in the balance for his young career. The 14-race card shines the spotlight on two-year-old pacing males, with two $30,000 USD divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 USD splits of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $10,000 USD cuts of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. 

(With files from The Red Mile)