Ron Burke figures he will have two horses racing in the final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series on April 27 at Yonkers Raceway. Which two horses remains to be seen.
As the series for older male pacers heads to Saturday night’s fifth -- and last -- round of preliminary action, Burke-trained horses hold the top three spots in the standings. Something For Doc is No. 1, followed by Annieswesterncard and Foiled Again. In addition, Burke’s Clear Vision is 10th.
The conditions for the eight-horse final limit Burke, who shares ownership in all four horses, to two finalists. If Foiled Again and Clear Vision trail Something For Doc and Annieswesterncard in the standings following Saturday’s action, both could end up in the Levy’s consolation division on April 27.
A more likely outcome, however, is that Burke and his ownership groups will sell either Something For Doc or Annieswesterncard – or both – prior to the final.
“Both horses are getting strong interest,” Burke said. “If Clear Vision makes the final I’d be very tempted to sell both. We’re going to race two (horses) in the final, it’s just a matter of how we get there. It’s not a big issue to us.
“I think my three best horses aren’t even racing now, so I’ve kind of got a backlog and this gives us the chance to move a couple. It’s also a good opportunity for someone to get a horse that’s already paid into a lucrative spot.”
Burke said he believes four-year-olds Sweet Lou, Escape The News and Hillbilly Hanover “by the end of the year will prove to be my best horses.”
Something For Doc and Annieswesterncard both have three wins in the Levy series heading into Round 5. Foiled Again, who is the richest pacer in North American harness racing history with $4.69 million in career earnings, had a second- and third-place finish before winning two in a row.
Annieswesterncard is in the first of four divisions on Saturday while Something For Doc and Clear Vision, coming off a win last week, are in the second division. Foiled Again is in the fourth division, which also includes Forever Just and Casimir Jitterbug, who are fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Levy standings.
Foiled Again, a nine-year-old gelding who last year became the oldest pacer to have a million-dollar season, won the Levy in 2009 and 2010.
“As he gets older it takes him a little more time to get going,” Burke said. “As horses get older they get fatter and it takes a little time to work off the weight. He’s probably going to slip some, too, although he hasn’t shown signs of it yet. He’s very good at taking care of himself; that’s why he’s lasted.”
Burke, who has approximately 230 horses in his racing stable, will not only be focused on the Levy this weekend at Yonkers. He has five of the top nine older female pacers in the standings for the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series: Camille (tied for first), Rocklamation (tied for third), Ginger And Fred (seventh), Bettor B Lucky (eighth) and Ramalama (ninth). Another Burke trainee, Rock N Soul, is tied for No. 12.
Rocklamation is the Matchmaker’s defending champion.
Camille, who is tied for the top spot with Anndrovette, has three wins and a second in the series. She is locked into the April 27 final and will take off this weekend. There are three fifth-round divisions on tap Friday.
“She loves coming off a week off,” Burke said. “We did it a lot with her last year.”
Following are the top 16 horses in the standings for the Levy (with points). Horses receive 50 points for a win, 25 for second, 12 for third, eight for fourth and five for fifth. Horses also get 25 points per start.
1. Something For Doc (262); 2. Annieswesterncard (255); 3. Foiled Again (237); 4. Forever Just (200); 5. Casimir Jitterbug (195); 6. Dancin Yankee (192); 7., tie, Nob Hill High, Razzle Dazzle (175); 9. Second Wind N (170); 10. Clear Vision (167); 11. Classic Rock Nroll (158.5); 12., tie, Electrofire, Versado (158); 14. EZ Noah (150); 15. Lettucerocku A (145); 16. Listowel (142).
Following are the top 16 mares in the standings for the Matchmaker (with points). Horses receive 50 points for a win, 25 for second, 12 for third, eight for fourth and five for fifth. Horses also get 25 points per start.
1., tie, Anndrovette, Camille (275); 3., tie, Krispy Apple, Rocklamation (237); 5. Feeling You (233); 6. Royal Cee Cee N (199.5); 7. Ginger And Fred (199); 8. Bettor B Lucky (195); 9. Ramalama (180); 10. Warrawee Koine (175.5); 11. Eighthunrdolarbill (175); 12., tie, Full Picture, Rock N Soul (137); 14., tie, Ramona Disomma, Western Silk (125); 16. Doc’s Hope (122).
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.