The North American qualifying bonanza continued on Sunday, May 31, as New Jersey's Gaitway Farm played host to no less than 24 races. Standardbred stars made their presence felt during the session, which featured some of the biggest names in the industry.
The session, which was contested over a 'fast' track, was dominated by trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras, who recorded 11 and nine wins, respectively.
The fourth race of the session saw Warrawee Ubeaut make her four-year-old charted debut for Gingras and Burke. The star daughter of Sweet Lou started from Post 7 and sat fourth through the opening quarter (:28.4) and half (:57.1). The winner of 19 of 31 races and $1.71-million in purses was second-over by the 1:24.2 three-quarters pole and was on top at the head of the lane. The bay propelled to a two and three-quarter-length win courtesy of a :27.2 final quarter. Warrawee Ubeaut's win time was 1:52.2. Warrawee Ubeaut is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phillip Collura, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Atlanta, the sparkling five-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven, made her 2020 qualifying debut in Race 10, as the much heralded bay was solid for the driver/trainer combination of Gingras and Burke. Atlanta lined up in Post 5 and settled for second early, as the Andy Miller-driven Homicide Hunter cut the quarter in :29.1 and opening half in :59. Gingras moved to the lead in the third quarter, as he and Atlanta geared up and went on trip the third timer in 1:26.3. The duo continued their clip in the final panel, as they shot home in :27.3. Atlanta's win time was 1:54.1 and her margin of victory was 10 lengths. Atlanta is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor.
Speedster Dorsoduro Hanover recorded the first charted line of his 2020 campaign in Race 11, as the five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding provided Burke with yet another Sunday training victory. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky behind Dorsoduro Hanover, and the duo left from the outside Post 8 and were overland in third past the :28.2 opening quarter. The duo settled down to the lead in the second quarter and was first to the half-mile indicator in :56.2. Dorsoduro Hanover spun off three quarters in 1:23.4 and led the rest of the way. The career winner of $1.67-million finished things off with a :28.2 final quarter. The win time was 1:52.1 and the margin of victory was two and a quarter lengths. Dorsoduro Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Wingfield Brothers LLC.
The seventh race of the morning saw Gingras and Burke click with another top performer, as Father Patrick filly Sister Sledge trotted to victory in what was the first charted line of her three-year-old campaign. The filly started from Post 8 and was third through the opening quarter (:29.1) and half (:58.4). Sister Sledge was first up in third at the 1:27.1 three-quarters pole before continuing her charge home. Gingras and his filly were determined in the lane, as the continued to fight and eventually got up for a neck win 1:55.3 over the Dexter Dunn-driven Crucial, who was looking to go wire to wire. Sister Sledge, who kicked home with a :27.4 final panel, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Jason Melillo, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
A pair of three-year-old pacers eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup also notched qualifying victories on Sunday.
Cattlewash, who has been gauged as the 12-1 fourth selection in Trot Magazine's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, kicked off the session with a win for Gingras and Burke. The Somebeachsomewhere colt started from Post 4, was second past the :29.2 opening quarter, and cleared to the lead just past the :58 half-mile marker. From there, Cattlewash went on to cover three quarters in 1:25.1, come home in :28.2, and hang on for a nose victory in 1:53.3. Cattlewash is a homebred of W. Donovan of Delray Beach, Florida.
The other Cup-eligible that recorded a win on Sunday was The Greek Freak, who is a gelded son of Captaintreacherous. Matt Kakaley was calling the shots behind 'The Freak,' who went gate to wire and stopped the clock in 1:53.1. The margin of victory was two and a half lengths. The Greek Freak is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Piatt Racing LLC, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.