Despite being handicapped by the outside post position, DWs NY Yank went wire-to-wire to win the $30,000 Winners Over Trot on a Sunday afternoon card at Harrah's Philadelphia dominated by driver Yannick Gingras.
It was another close call for another Ron Burke trainee as DWs NY Yank and Gingras held off the quick-closing Tacs Delight (David Miller) to win by a neck in 1:53.4. Pocket-sitter Luvyabutleave (Tony Morgan) finished over a length behind in third as the 41-1 longshot in a field scratched down to seven.
The four-year-old Dilbert Hanover gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Howard Taylor, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He paid $4.20 to win as the race favourite.
The win was the third in a row for DWs NY Yank and 16th this year from 26 starts. He's earned the bulk of his $272,388 bankroll while under Burke's care.
DWs NY Yank has also doubled as a Trotting Under Saddle competitor this year and established a North American record of 1:59 on a five-eighths-mile track at The Meadows in September in partnership with Canadian thoroughbred jockey Chantal Sutherland-Kruse.
The win was the fifth on the 14-race card for Gingras and third for Burke.