It was a huge day for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and and trainer Mickey Burke, who finished the 13-race card on Friday, Feb. 23 at The Meadows with six wins and five wins, respectively, while sweeping the afternoon's co-features.
Hammered down to 2-5, Risenshine Seaside made it look that easy, dominating the $28,649 Open Handicap Pace with a facile front-end victory.
It was only his second start of the year, but the five-year-old Downbytheseaside-Vivid Shine gelding flashed mid-season form, drawing off to score for Wrenn in 1:51.1. The pocket-sitting Sandbetweenmytoes was second, beaten two lengths, with Duval Street third.
The win sent Risenshine Seaside soaring over $300,000 in career earnings for trainer Michael Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.
Wrenn and Burke also captured Friday’s co-feature, the $28,649 Open Handicap Trot, when Warrawee Yang (pictured above) gobbled up the leader, 3-5 favourite Emeralds Legacy, with a powerful first-over move and rolled home in 1:54, four lengths better than Killer Instinct. Windsong Patriot completed the ticket.
The four-year-old son of Trixton-Endless Flirt vaulted over $130,000 for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(with files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)