The powerful team of Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke flexed their muscles Wednesday (Oct. 3) at The Meadows when they won five races, including the co-feature, a $13,000 fillies and mares conditioned pace, with newcomer Percy Bluechip.
A recent acquisition by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Purnel & Libby and Donald Emond, Percy Bluechip had been racing in Canada, where the three-year-old daughter of Shadow Play and Advantest compiled a bankroll of $468,755. Facing older mares, she powered to the front from post 6 and held off the late charge of the pocket-sitting Camera Lady, downing her by a neck in a sharp 1:52. Shesasmokinlady completed the ticket.
In the companion feature, a $13,000 fillies and mares conditioned trot, Glidinthruparadise also scored on the front end with a 1:54.2 triumph for Brian Zendt, trainer Ed Zubkoff, Jr. and Brookside Stables. The five-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide and Chowda lifted her lifetime earnings to $222,473.
Jack Killeen rallied from off the pace with Dreamers Delight to earn his first United States driving win
Elsewhere on the card, 18-year-old Jack Killeen, a resident of Dublin, Ireland who is stateside for several months to learn the American approach to the business, collected his first U.S. win when he brought Dreamers Delight from 7-1/2 lengths back to prevail in 1:56.3 for trainer Paul Corey and owner Diane Coe.
(The Meadows)