Burke hopeful for first Hambletonian Stakes victory
Trainer Ron Burke, who runs the Meadows-based Burke Racing Stable and has finished second in the past two editions of the Hambletonian Stakes, is back this year with three starters in the sport’s premier event for 3-year-old trotters Saturday at The Meadows Racetrack. Burke will send out What The Hill, Southwind Cobra, and Southwind Woody in the hopes of hoisting the trophy for the first time.
“It’s kind of different this year because I don’t have the favorite, but mine also aren’t coming in with any problems,” Burke said. “They seem like everything is good with them. I have a feeling they’re going to be as good as they can be. The question is whether that’s good enough.”
What The Hill drew post one in the second of two $100,000 eliminations and is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. The top five finishers from each elimination return for the $1 million Hambletonian final later in the day. The final will air live during a broadcast from 4-5:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
What The Hill has won four of six races this year and heads to the Hambletonian off a career-best 1:52.1 win in the Reynolds Memorial last weekend at the Meadowlands.
For his career, What The Hill has won seven of 20 races and earned $417,236. His wins include the 2016 Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters on last year’s Hambletonian Day. The most recent Haughton winner to return and win the Hambletonian was Muscle Hill in 2009.
“He’s a legitimate contender,” Burke said. “He’s going to be able to race either way (from the front or behind) and puts himself in play and tends to always finish right on the wire with everybody else. I think two heats is an advantage for him. He’s a big, strong horse. If anything, he’ll go better the second heat than the first. So that doesn’t bother me at all.”
Southwind Cobra is 15-1 in the same elimination as What The Hill. He has won two of 24 career races.
“Cobra is an underachiever,” Burke said. “We’re basically hoping that he puts it all together on one Saturday in August.”
Southwind Woody is 12-1 on the morning line in the first elimination. He has won two of 25 lifetime starts.
“He’s steadily improving and I think deserves a shot,” Burke said.
International Moni is the 5-2 favorite in the first elimination. Devious Man is the 5-2 choice in the second.