The nation’s leading-trainer Ron Burke shipped two of his millionaires into Batavia Downs on Saturday, October 7 and won the two biggest overnight races of the season with Foiled Again and DW’S NY Yank.
The pacing feature was the $15,000 George “Duke” Dranichak Memorial, named for a longtime local horseman and racing official whose career spanned over five decades.
Focus Power went for the front but made a break. In Runaway Bay inherited the top, pacing to the quarter in :27.3, with Fireyourguns initiating a first-over challenge at the leader around the turn and past the half in :55.1.
Fireyourguns couldn’t clear and remained parked into the second circuit. With the outer flow stagnant, Teo Enteo A tipped three wide at the three-eighths and brought Don’tcallmefrancis into contention. This left Foiled Again locked at the rail fourth behind a wall of horses.
Just before the three-quarters, Fireyourguns cleared and driver Kevin Cummings found room to maneuver Foiled Again off the rail and moved him into third behind Teo Enteo A. Halfway through the final bend, Cummings tipped the richest standardbred of all time three-deep and had him in full gear. Foiled Again proceeded to soar through the stretch under minimal urging, winning in 1:52.2.
It was the 96th win lifetime for Foiled Again, returning $4.60, and his fourth victory at Batavia Downs, where he also won the Kane Memorial Pace in 2009, 2013 and 2016. Foiled Again has now amassed $7,543,278 in lifetime earnings, and competes for the interests of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and JJK Stables LLC.
The top trot was the $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot, named in honor of the local trainer-driver who developed many great trotters and excelled on the Grand Circuit.
Heavily-favoured DW’s NY Yank, also driven by Kevin Cummings, left from post six, grabbing the front. As the field settled behind him, DW's NY Yank trotted uncontested through splits of :28, :57.1 and 1:27.1.
Fleet Bumblebee, sitting the pocket, angled toward the passing lane into the stretch. However, though Fleet Bumblebee cut into DW's NY Yank's advantage, the Burke trainee held on to win in 1:57.
It was the third win in a row for DW’S NY Yank, returning $2.40, and sixth win of the year, boosting his bankroll to $140,750 for 2017. He has 46 wins and $1,156,335 in purses to his credit in his career.
The eight-year-old gelding son of Dilbert Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
(With files from Batavia Downs)