On To Norway extended his win streak to 25 as he took down the $30,137 Open Handicap Trot on Saturday, May 16 at Harrah's Hoosier Park, winning with regular pilot John De Long in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke.
Leaving from post five as the 1-9 favourite, On To Norway settled into the fourth position on the first turn while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) trotted to the point in the field of six through a :27.2 opening quarter. Operator had things his way to the half in :56 when On To Norway was given his cue by De Long, trotting first-over and alongside the leader as the rivalry renewed once more to three-quarters in 1:24.4.
On To Norway surged ahead at the head of the lane while Operator attempted to counter and quicken to his inside. Trotting home in :28, On To Norway put away Operator in deep-stretch to score by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53. Operator held for second, while Drink Up Drink Up (Brandon Bates) rallied from last to round out the triactor.
The winning four-year-old Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding hasn't tasted defeat in more than 13 months, having finished second in his three-year-old debut on April 3, 2025. In the time since, On To Norway has won 25 consecutive starts, all in the state of Indiana, with 24 coming at Hoosier and one at the Indiana State Fairgrounds last August. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black & White Stable and Michael Rosenthal, the career earner of $948,372 is two-for two to begin 2026 and 29-for-35 lifetime. He returned $2.10 to win.
The victory was one of three on the 13-race card for Burke, who also scored victories in the $34,247 Go On BB Final with Klorox Queen and $30,137 Fillies and Mares Open 1-2 Handicap Pace with Goo Goo Won.
The tripling Burke combined with Trace Tetrick, who drove five winners on the day, to get Klorox Queen to the winner's circle. She left from the outside post eight as the 9-5 favourite in the field of Indiana-sired fillies who were non-winners of two or $30,000 USD. The Burke Brigade left as a duo from the far outside, with Klorox Queen crossing over in front of stablemate Its My Story (Travis Seekman) to lead at the quarter in :26.4. The bettors' choice remained on the engine to the half in :55.2 before pacing clear by two lengths at three-quarters in 1:24. Racing well clear of the rest, Klorox Queen doubled the margin in the stretch, crossing the wire four lengths the best in 1:52.4. Its My Story held for second, with Gina Romantica (Atlee Bender) up for third at 53-1.
The victorious three-year-old daughter of Tellitlikeitis-Bleach Goddess has won three straight races and four of eight on the year for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC,. With a six-for-14 record, Klorox Queen has banked $70,366 lifetime. The win price was $5.60.
Tetrick also scored with Albany Blue Chip ($3.80), Michelle ($4.60), Er Kelly ($9.20) and Adashious Hanover ($3.80). He leads the Hoosier standings with 92 wins, 23 ahead of John De Long, as he aims for his 13th straight title.
The Burke barn concluded its evening with Goo Goo Won pulling a mild 5-1 upset in the distaff Open with driver Kyle Wilfong aboard.
Off the wings, Goo Goo Won was fifth on the outside behind a host of leavers with Canttouchthese (John De Long) circling by Fox Valley Lava (Brandon Bates) to trip the timer at the quarter in :26.3. Canttouchthese cleared before releasing Rolling Rosie (Trace Tetrick) to the point, before Goo Goo Won took her turn to cross over against the pylons and led to the half in :55.2. Last to the lead on the backstretch was Tarshish (LeWayne Miller), clearing Goo Goo Won entering the final turn before coming under immediate fire from Canttouchthese, who was back out for more first-over and alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:23.2. Tarshish drifted off the cones at the top of the lane, allowing Goo Goo Won to fire through and complete the final lead change in the contentious affair and scamper 2-1/4 lengths clear in 1:51.3. Fox Valley Lava rallied for second, with Rollin Rosie splitting rivals for third.
Owned by Judith Taylor, the victorious seven-year-old daughter of Fred And Ginger-Malinka has won four of 10 appearances on the year. Her 27th career victory vaulted her career bankroll to $558,065 in 114 starts. She paid $13.80 to win.
Also on the card, Bam Bam completed a clean sweep of the Hal Dale, the male counterpart to the Go On BB, going first-over for his fifth straight victory in the $34,247 final with Atlee Bender driving for Erv Miller.
Bam Bam was away third from the rail as the 1-9 favourite, with Check Your Pockets (LeWayne Miller) leading the field of nine to the quarter in :27.2. Brookview Glider (Jordan Ross) moved from the pocket to the lead, pacing to the half in :55.2 when Bender wound Bam Bam up first-over to challenge at three-quarters in 1:24.2. Bam Bam got the better of Brookview Glider midway through the stretch, pacing clear by three lengths on the finish line in 1:52.1. Check Your Pockets got up late to edge out Brookview Glider for second.
The clocking was a lifetime best for the Bam Bam. The three-year-old rookie was second in his career debut before reeling off his next five in a row and banking $57,866 for owners Anthony Lombardi, Engel Stable of Il LLC and Louis Willinger. He paid $2.20 at the windows.
Racing will return to Hoosier Park on Wednesday, May 20 with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The card also features a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and $10,000 guaranteed Late High 5 (Race 14) done in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program. Hoosier will also offer a special all-stakes Memorial Day card on Monday, May 25 with a first post of 5:30 p.m. The Memorial Day card will serve as the kickoff of Indiana Sire Stakes for all three-year-old divisions, commencing the first of eight legs of the series ahead of Hoosier Champions night on Oct. 9.
(Hoosier Park; photo of On To Norway winning on Nov. 7, 2025)