Ron Burke, aiming for his fifth training title in six seasons at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, had a training triple on Saturday, March 22, including a sweep of the $24,286 features on both gaits.
Ordained, a Father Patrick–Chic Chick gelding, remains undefeated in two 2025 starts and has won five of his last six races. After setting fractions of :27.3, :58, and 1:26.2, he had to dig in late to fend off pocket-sitting Esmeralda Trio IT, prevailing in 1:54.4. The meet’s leading driver, George Napolitano Jr., teamed up with top trainer Burke for the victory. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC, and Frank Baldachino, Ordained (pictured above) now boasts $291,542 in career earnings.
The Sweet Lou–Riley Character gelding Solid Character also had to hold off a challenge from the pocket-sitting favourite, Hungry Angel Boy, to win in 1:52.4. After setting modest splits of :27.2, :56.4, and 1:24.3, Solid Character maintained his lead to the wire for driver Matt Kakaley, who represented the partnership of Burke Racing LLC, Robert Jackson, Timothy Sullivan, and Tom Wilson. This victory pushed the pacer's career earnings to $329,483.
The other Burke-trained winner was Borninlockdown GB, a Weaver/Bruscemi-owned horse undefeated in four starts since arriving from Great Britain. The Matt Kakaley-driven Foreclosure N–Judy Hall gelding cruised to an unchallenged 1:52 victory in the level below the feature class.
There were two divisions of the $23,571 top claiming class for pacers, with the faster division claimed by Lyons Surfing (Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy). After trailing in the first half, he unleashed a powerful closing kick to win in 1:51. Driver Ridge Warren teamed up with trainer Gareth Dowse and P T Stable for the victory, marking the gelding's fourth win in his last five starts.
The other division of the top claimers saw different tactics used by the winner, as Sun Of A Show led most of the way before stopping the timer in 1:51.4, his second straight success. The Sunfire Blue Chip-Star Of Show gelding was guided by Simon Allard for trainer Herbert Lux III and owners William “Moon” Mullin and Howard Taylor.
Anthony Napolitano earned the driving honours for the card with four visits to victory lane.
The Game Of Claims Pacing Series action continues on Monday and Tuesday with 1 p.m. cards. Monday's feature is the $20,000 USD Championship for horses with a $15,000 USD base tag. While there were no three-time winners in the preliminaries, half of the eight-horse field won twice, and the other half earned one victory. Tuesday will feature ten $9,000 USD divisions for the third and final preliminary of the series for horses priced at $15,000 USD, including two-time winners Captain Terminator and Stick With Cramer.
(With files from PHHA/Pocono)