Driver Brad Burke got his first taste of victory on Wednesday, Oct. 15 in the third race at The Meadows, making for an extra-special six-win day for his father, U.S. Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke.
The junior Burke, in his 10th career steer, took the lines on Sea Of Heartbreak in the conditioned pace. He tucked the sophomore Downbytheseaside-Your Beautiful filly in third and kept her on the pylons through :27.4 and :58 early fractions. The young reinsman decided it was go time midway down the backstretch, sending his charge first-over through three-quarters in 1:27.4. Pacesetter Lil Bit Bettor (Eric Neal) had no answer for Sea Of Heartbreak, who glided to the front on the final turn and held Wish It Was Love (Aaron Merriman) at bay for a 2-1/4-length victory in 1:56.4. Wish It Was Love was second, followed by Crazylikeitis (Justin Walters).
Both Brad Burke and Sea Of Heartbreak took their first career wins. The filly, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Beasty LLC, Knox Services Inc., and RAS Racing LLC, is now one-for-seven with $24,415 in earnings.
Brad Burke made his debut on Aug. 9 at The Meadows and hit the board for the first time on Sept. 11, also behind Sea Of Heartbreak. The reinsman is 1-1-2 through 10 starts for a solid rookie-season UDRS of .222.
For Ron Burke, the win was his 16,257th, but the picture is likely one he'll be keeping and framing. The trainer won five more times on the 13-race program, with victories coming from Always Ana Hanover ($3), Muscle Joe ($3.80), Super Girl ($6), Rising Interest ($6.20), and Lady Cafe Au Lait ($2.60). Ronnie Wrenn Jr. piloted all five of those winners, upping his seasonal total to 482 and his strike rate to 25.3 per cent.
(Standardbred Canada)