Hoosier Park's leading trainer Ron Burke dominated the Grand Circuit stakes action at the Indiana oval on Friday night (October 28), winning half of the eight Circle City divisions for three-year-olds, which carried purses ranging from $35,700 to $41,700.
In fact, the Burke stable won a total of six of the evening's 14 races, while teaming up with drivers Chris Page and Ricky Macomber Jr. The first of Burke's stakes winners was pacing gelding More Dragon (Page), who defeated stablemate Matrix Of Luck (Macomber Jr.) at odds of 13-1 in 1:51.4. Burke swept the pacing filly divisions with 8-1 shot Encore Deo (Page) winning in 1:53 and second-favourite Lakeisha Hall (Macomber Jr.) scoring in 1:51.3. The popular Burke-trained trotting gelding Dayson (Macomber Jr.) also won his division in 1:53.3.
Page also drove the favoured trotting filly Consolidator to a 1:54.4 victory in the Circle City Stakes for trainer Jim Arledge Jr.
The other trotting filly division was won by Synonymous Hanover, who is owned in part by Scott Bice of Whitby, Ont. The Chris Oakes trainee pulled off a 21-1 upset, winning in 1:56.1 with John De Long in the sulky.
The biggest upset of the night was posted by pacing gelding Mystical Rock (Andy Shetler), who was victorious in 1:52.3 for trainer Mervin Schmucker at odds of 44-1.
The popular trotting colt Milligans School and driver Marcus Miller kicked off the stakes action with a 1:55.4 triumph for trainer Julie Miller.