Burke has 16 horses in Breeders Crown
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Ron Burke, the leading trainer in terms of wins and earnings this year, has 16 horses set to compete Friday and Saturday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park (Ind.) in the Breeders Crown finals.
Included in that 16 for Burke, of Canonsburg, and the Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, are Bythemissal, TCI (2-year-old colt) and It’s Academic.
In the most recent Hambletonian/Breeders Crown poll, TCI was third and Bythemissal was ninth.
Through Sunday’s action, Burke had notched 972 wins and had earnings of $22, 815, 301.
Featured Saturday will be Burke-trained Celebrity Bambino, who will start from the rail at a morning line of 9-2 in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot. The Breeders Crown elimination winner last weekend will have to best favorite Tactical Approach (5-2) from the 10th post, Up Your Deo, 7-2 from the No. 3 hole and Helpfirstedition, 5-1 from the fifth post.
In the 3-year-old open trot, Burke-trained It’s Academic is 6-1 from the No. 2 post.
In the open pace, Bythemissal will start from the two-hole; Charlie May, owned by Canonsburg’s Don Tiger, will start from No. 6 post. They’ll be trying to slay a talented field led by Tatoo Artist, winner of seven straight and an even-money favorite. Defending open pace champion, Allywag Hanover will start from post No. 10.
Bythemissal enters as a 3-1 choice with Charlie May at 10-1 on the morning line. Allywag Hanover is 6-1.
In winning his elimination Saturday night, Bythemissal went three quarters in 1:23 and paced home in 26 seconds for a win in 1:49, about two lengths over Allywag Hanover.
Ponda Warrior closed inside to finish third, while Taurasi (Andrew McCarthy) and Chase H Hanover also advanced to the final, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Bythemissal is owned by Burke Racing, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The win pushed his career earnings to more than $1.7 million dollars.
Charlie May finished fourth in his elimination behind red-hot Tatoo Artist.
Other Burke-trained notable finalists are Lou’s Pearlman in the open pace; Drama Act in the open mares; and M-M’s Dream, among others.
In the second Open Mares Trot elimination, 12-1 Refined upset heavy hometown favorite M-M’s Dream by a nose in the 1:54.1 mile.
M-M’s Dream owns a victory over heavy-favorite Jiggy Jog S this season.