The week concluded at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a Ron Burke sweep in the Indiana Sire Stakes on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Two divisions for the fifth round of Indiana Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers highlighted the 14-race card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Sunday evening.
The first division was the evening’s 10th race on the card, with Ron Burke trainee Roll Em picking up the victory from off the pace in a lifetime-best 1:49.1 for driver Brandon Bates
Leaving from post position five, the gelded son of Time To Roll landed in mid-pack for Bates as race favourite Rockin On Venus and Mike Oosting set the tempo through an opening quarter of :27. Up the backstretch, Trace Tetrick launched a quick quarter move from third to take the lead at the half in :55. As Virgo led the field into the far turn, Roll Em and Bates flushed the cover of Saddle Up to be a second-over fifth at three-quarters in 1:22.1, still with seven lengths to make up on the leaders in the stretch.
As Virgo and Rockin On Venus began to duel at the top of the lane, Roll Em launched off cover, using a :253 explosion to get up in deep stretch, chasing down Virgo and opening up by a length and a quarter at the line to pick up the victory in 1:49.1. Virgo stayed for second and Rockin On Venus rounded out the trifecta.
Trained by Ron Burke, Roll Em has now picked up three straight victories after going back-to-back at The Meadows. The June purchase by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino now has five victories on the season and boasts lifetime earnings of $75,260 following his score in the $51,500 first division.
Following his stablemate’s lead, Rogers Image picked up his fourth straight victory in the $52,000 second division, scoring from well off the pace with driver John De Long for the Burke Brigade.
Leaving from outside post nine, Rogers Image landed near the rear of the field off the gate in what would prove to be a busy mile on the front. After a hot :26.1 opening quarter, Skyway Victor and Trace Tetrick pulled the pocket to gain control of the race up the backstretch, before Peter Wrenn gave Joelsyy Hanover his marching orders, taking over at the half in :53.4.
The field of 11 began to bunch on the turn as Joelsyy Hanover led though three-quarters in 1:23.0 with Skyway Victor waiting for the passing lane and Rogers Image yet to make any noise from the backfield, sitting third-over sixth. That quickly changed in the stretch as De Long unleashed Rogers Image, quickly gobbling up ground on the leaders, using a :26.3 final quarter to get the jump on Skyway Victor and a hard-charging Betterrock along the rail to score the victory in 1:50.2.
Owned by the Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Ras Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Rogers Image picked up his fifth victory on the season thus far. The gelded son of Rockin Image out of the Jate Lobell mare, Remis Rocket, pushed his bankroll to $127,303 lifetime.
Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, Aug. 25 with a 14-race card. The card will feature two-year-old trotters in Indiana Sire Stakes action, with two divisions set to go for the trotting fillies and three for the freshman colts. Post time is 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)