The Ron Burke Stable won five races on Saturday’s 14-race card including three of the four Late Closer Finals, and Dave Palone steered home six winners on a busy day in Washington, PA.
Firedbylindie moved to the front for driver Dave Palone going to the half mile point and never looked back winning the $28,700 Margaret Provost Memorial by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:56.4. The winner trained by Ron Burke now has lifetime earnings of $47,500. Following the winner home were the Wilbur Yoder trained entry of Lindy Missunshine and Giant Possession.
Next up for Burke was the pair of three-year-old Sweet Lou fillies: Pretty N Fast and Walk On Air. Using similar tactics as with Firedbylindie, Pretty N Fast moved to the lead approaching the half and went on to victory in the $26,300 Ruby Cook Memorial Pace by one-and-a-half lengths over her stablemate in 1:53.1. Crew Sock Hanover grabbed third money for David Brickell.
The third late closer winner for the Burke Stable was Capt Chaps Hanover, winning the $31,100 Ben Wood Memorial Trot in 1:56 over 50-1 shot Explosive Form and Cash Hit. Dave Palone steered Capt Chaps Hanover for his third-consecutive win on the card. Sent at 2-5 Capt Chaps Hanover went gate to wire and paid $2.60 to win.
Norm Parker-trained and Mike Wilder-driven Wild Wild Western won the Tom Kirwan Memorial late closer final with an impressive wire-to-wire win from post nine in a lifetime-best 1:52. Wild Wild Western paced through a pedestrian half of :57.1 before pacing his last half in :54.4 for the win. The Ron Burke-trained Yacht Week followed the winner home but was no match. Captain Hill grabbed the show spot.
The Winners Over $10,000 life saw a three-horse stretch duel with Atta Boy Dan and Royaltyhasarrived finishing first in a dead heat in 1:51.1. Nitro Seelster finished a nose back in third.
Racing resumes Monday, April 29 with a 1:05 p.m. post. On Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4, The Meadows will have a special 11:25 a.m. post time.
(with files from The Meadows)