One of harness racing's top conditioners, Ron Burke sends out $115,000 Overbid favourite Ginger And Fred tonight and he took the time to assess his weekend
Meadowlands' prospects and also offered updates on his barn’s 2009 U.S. divisional champions Older Pacer of the Year Won The West and Older Trotting Mare Buck I St Pat:
Salutation Hanover – Friday race six, post six
“Salutation Hanover (race six, post one) went through the Harrisburg Sale and was bought back by one of the owners, Randy Ringer. I thought the horse had maximized his potential last year. Randy has had the horse since he was two, and he said I was wrong and underestimated the horse. It looks like Randy is right on this one so far, and I’m glad because Randy is a great owner. He put his money where his mouth is and bought us out. It seems like the horse has responded this year, but as long as he doesn’t have to face the top trotters in the country.”
Beeeyouuuuuu – Saturday race three (Four Leaf Clover), post four
“Beeeyouuuuuu was coming off a horrible injury where you couldn’t do anything with him. He had a couple of training trips, and then we just threw him into the first leg of the Four Leaf Clover. He was an even fifth, but he wasn’t totally exhausted. Catching the extra week off because of the cancellation might have actually worked in his favor. We were able to train him a little bit more, and I look for him to bounce back this week.”
Transcending – Saturday race six, post eight
“With Transcending there are two keys to shipping him from the Meadows. First, he was racing against Mystery Chase, who is better than a $75,000 claimer, and I was hoping to eliminate racing him against that kind. Also, even though he doesn’t hit a knee or anything, he struggles through the turns a little bit. It’s too hard to chase down better horses when you do that. Just like Theredandpanlines, I thought this horse would pick up at the Big M because he’ll get through the turns so much easier.”
Big Ten Champ – Saturday race nine, post nine:
“Big Ten Champ overcame a tough trip to win again and George Brennan is driving unbelievably. We’ll pretty much go with the faith that George will figure a way to get us in the right spot. I can’t be happier with the drives I’m getting there from him, Brian Sears and Yannick Gingras. That’s a huge part of our success, getting the right guys to fit the horses.”
Won The West - 2009 Older Pacer of the Year
“With Won The West we’ve never really pushed him. Last year, in his last couple of starts I saw it coming, he was getting better and was starting to be able to beat them. Mister Big is gone now, and others that he had trouble with. Maybe the switch to a different driver (Jim Morrill, Jr.) and just growing up made him blossom. It goes back to size. He’s the biggest horse and the best looking in the barn. He’s just finally learned to go as fast as he could go. I have all the confidence in the world that he’ll come back this year and have his best year at age six. In that way, he reminds me a lot of Maltese Artist.”
Buck I St Pat – 2009 Older Trotting Mare of the Year
“Buck I St Pat is simply a remarkable horse. I trained her in Florida two weeks ago, and I left there thinking maybe Howard Taylor is right after beating me down to race her for another two years. This is just a special horse. Her legs look great and her attitude is wonderful. I really can’t be happier with her. We’ll pick our spots with her and she won’t race more than ten or 12 times. The nice thing to know about her is every time she goes behind the gate you’re getting one hundred percent. She loves the big track and the Meadowlands, and she’s become a closer. Coming from behind she can blow anybody away, but I don’t know about Lucky Jim. I don’t think anybody can run him down.”
Southwind Wasabi - 2009 Harrisburg, PA yearling sale topper at $220,000
“Southwind Wasabi was bought with the idea of being an eventual replacement for Buck I St Pat. She’s been super impressive training and done everything we could ask for so far. Hopefully, she won’t have to face her stablemate until the finals. The idea was they would split eliminations. Southwind Wasabi has the breeding Buck I St Pat doesn’t have. I just hope she has the same determination. She came from a top barn (Chuck Sylvester) and was driven by Hall of Famers, so she was always taken care of. We thought this is a horse that could improve at four and would definitely have residual value.”
Ron and his father, Mickey, have campaigned the leading stable in the sport for the past four years. They have registered the most wins for four seasons in a row, and led in money earnings since 2007. In 2009, their massive, powerhouse stable set an all-time record of 761 wins and $14,822,336. After an unprecedented four-year stretch, the Burke Brigade continues to lead the nation in 2010 (93 wins and $1,364,282 through March 17). They are currently the leading stable at the Meadows and second at the Big M.
“I’m still carrying two cell phones. I’ve said it all along, I don’t think anybody could have a stable like ours before the technology took off with computers, BlackBerrys, and racing networks. For instance, if I miss the qualifiers at the Meadowlands, I can watch them online.”
(Meadowlands)