The Burke Brigade was out in full force on the final Saturday program of the season at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, winning four of seven Keystone Classic events for three-year-olds on Sept. 13.
The first Burke win came with Can It Be Magic ($3.40), driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., in the first $29,271 Keystone Classic division for trotting fillies. After sitting the pocket to the quarter in :29 and taking a shuffle to third by the half in :58.1, the Cantab Hall-Blonde Magic filly made her move to the front before three-quarters in 1:26.1 and trotted home a 2-3/4-length winner in 1:55.3. Bay Breeze Hanover (Andy Miller) was second, followed by Per Capita (Brady Brown). Can It Be Magic earned her seventh victory of the year in 17 tries for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Knox Services Inc. She is now nine-for-25 lifetime.
Burke struck again as Dave Palone and Railroad Station ($9.20) patiently sat third throughout :26.3, :54.4, and 1:22 splits and took advantage of a Lightning Lane opportunity to capture the $93,472 Keystone Classic for colt-and-gelding pacers. He won by a length in a lifetime-best 1:49.3 over Lous Starr (Fern Paquet Jr.), with Interstatedaydream (Mike Wilder) third. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, the son of Sweet Lou-Rodeo Rosie is now two-for-13 this year and has won five of 27 career outings.
The $39,826 Keystone Classic for trotting colts and geldings featured the closest finish of the day. Cheers Hanover ($2.60) and Wrenn, after sitting the pocket through :28, :58.2, and 1:27.1 fractions, needed every step of the Lightning Lane to nose out Arrowhead Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) and prevail in 1:55.1 to give Burke a stakes triple. Ill Have A Double (Wilder) was third. A :27.4 last quarter gave the winning son of Bar Hopping-Chez Lucie his fourth win of the season in 16 outings for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, James Simpson, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. The gelding is eight-for-26 lifetime.
In the $40,382 second Keystone Classic for trotting males, Burke and Wrenn struck again with Frank Leahy ($4.60). Moved to the lead past the quarter in :28.1 by Wrenn, the Southwind Frank-Regal Woman colt trotted middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:25.2 and saw out a 1:54.3 victory by a half-length over Bombay Tom (Wilder). Bell Hall (Wilbur Yoder) finished third. Frank Leahy, owned by Ben Mondello LLC and FAC Racing LLC, has now won five of 16 seasonal outings. He improved his career record to seven-for-25.
Burke ended the day with a training grand slam, extending his insurmountable lead in The Meadows trainers' standings. He once again leads all conditioners in North America in wins and earnings by a wide margin.
Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion Ballast ($3.40) extended her winning streak to five in the the first $39,688 Keystone Classic filly pace division. Wilder kept her in the pocket through :26.3, :54, and 1:21.2 splits until the head of the stretch, where the filly sprinted past Good As You (Aaron Merriman) to win by 2-1/2 lengths in a new mark of 1:49.2. Royally Hot (Wrenn) completed the ticket. Travis Alexander trains the winning daughter of Tall Dark Stranger-Catamaran Fashion for Evm Racing LLC. Ballast now has seven wins from 14 starts this season and is seven-for-21 lifetime.
In the second $39,688 Keystone Classic filly pace division, Wilder was at it again, placing Pilar Hanover ($7.40) fourth through :26.2, :55, and 1:22 panels and unleashing the filly late for a 1:51.1 half-length victory. Jordanna Hanover (Dave Miller) closed for second over Fancy Like Louuuuu (Merriman). The victorious Papi Rob Hanover-Paulas Best filly used a :28 final panel to pick up her second win of the season in 12 tries. Her seventh career score in start number 23 equalled her career best clocking for owners Jo Ann Looney-King and Paton Racing Inc. and trainer Jim King Jr.
Country Victory ($9.20) and Merriman went down the road in 1:53.1 for the faster $29,271 Keystone Classic filly trot division win. The International Moni-Kristins Victory filly put up panels of :26.4, :54.4, and 1:23 and was able to maintain her lead through the wire for a lifetime-best victory by 2-1/4 lengths. Saints Preserve Us (Dave Miller) finished second from Santa Cristina (Andy Miller). Trained by Melvin Schmucker for owners Yacht Club 140 LLC, Country Victory is now two-for-13 this season and has won five of 22 career attempts.
There will be no live racing next week. Racing will return to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
(With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)