Ron Burke trainees took home the lion’s share of both splits of round three of Indiana Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, headlined by On To Norway extending his win streak to nine with a career-best score on Thursday, June 26 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Leaving widest of all from post six as the 1-2 favourite in the $67,123 first split, driver John De Long settled On To Norway into fourth early while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) cut the quarter of :27.2. Operator rolled on the lead to the half in :55.4 when Eugene The Genius (Mike Oosting) tipped first-over from third and advanced to his wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.2 with On To Norway towed into contention second-over.
Wilfong kicked out the plugs on Operator while On To Norway tipped three-wide around a retreating Eugene The Genius as the sprint for home began. The two leaders raced well clear of the rest, with On To Norway blitzing home in :26.2 to nail a game Operator on the wire by a half-length in 1:52.2. Fifty Rivers (LeWayne Miller) finished third at 79-1, 6-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
On To Norway has now won nine of ten races on the year and 13 of 19 lifetime. Bred by Bennet Farms Inc. of Mi, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act now has $172,953 in seasonal earnings and more than $200,000 lifetime. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable, and Michael Rosenthal.
In the $67,808 second division, Starlitfranknstein got back into the win column following four consecutive second place efforts.
Leading driver Trace Tetrick landed the 1-20 favourite in fourth from post six in the field of seven while Ponda Rocky (Atlee Bender) grabbed and early lead through a quarter of :27.4. Ponda Rocky went unchallenged to the half in :56.3 before Tetrick angled the favourite out from fourth, grinding first-over into second in pursuit of Ponda Rocky through three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Ponda Rocky held a firm lead into the stretch, with Starlitfranknstein still having a length to make up at the eighth pole. Starlitfranknstein continued to wear down the leader late, inching in before getting to the wire first by a neck in 1:54. Kody Kickstand (Marcus Miller) got the benefit of a four-horse photo for the show spot, two lengths behind the winner.
Starlitfraknstein was won three of seven outings on the season and is yet be worse than second in 2025. The son of Swan For All-A Southern Lily has banked $94,829 on the season and went over $350,000 in career earnings for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC and Baldachino. The John Wagler-bred colt is six-for-16 lifetime.
Racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. The Friday night card features two divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in races three and 12.
(With files from Harrah's Hoosier Park)