With Pocono Downs' season finale nearing, it appears the winner of the trainer title won’t be decided until the final day of racing, Saturday, November 13
.
With only six race dates remaining on the 136-harness meet, trainer Ron Burke has a two-win lead over conditioner Carmine Fusco.
Burke collected his 86th victory Wednesday night with Waylon Hanover in Race 10. Earlier on the card, Fusco had recorded his 84th training win when Boos Boy reached the winner’s circle.
Fusco won consecutive trainer crowns in 2007-2008. He had a track record 177 victories in 2007.
This has actually been the first season Burke has had horses racing at Pocono on a regular basis. He’s the leading conditioner in North America and was way out in front of his nearest rival with 742 wins from 3,301 starts. He has accumulated more than $16 million in purses and has a Universal Training Rating (UTR) of .362.
Lou Pena will be the 2010 top percentage trainer at Pocono. Pena's UTR rating was .469 with 62 wins, 23 seconds and 15 thirds from 170 starts before this past Tuesday's card. His nearest rival was Ray Schnittker.
(With files from Pocono)