Big opening day for Freehold and Ron Burke

Freehold, NJ — The Ron Burke brigade invaded Freehold Raceway on opening day (August 27), and came away with three harness racing winners.

Burke started the day with a win in race 2, when the 2-year-old trotter Southwind Arturo broke his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths, with Joe Bongiorno in the bike.

A few races later, Burke and Bongiorno teamed up again, as odds-on choice Hot As Hill won the first division of the first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes- Standardbred Development Fund for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Sent off as the 1-20 favorite, she won by four lengths in 1:58.1, for her third win of the year from twelve starts.

One race later, Burke sent out favored Feelin Red Hot in the Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap, with George Brennan in tow. She delivered as the favorite, pacing the mile in 1:54 for her fifth win of the season.

Burke had a chance at four winners with Avenir in the eighth race, the second division of the NJSS-SDF, but she broke early on and ended up fourth. The race went to Pub Crawl, who trotted in 1:58 for trainer Julie Miller and driver Andy Miller.

Live racing continues at Freehold on Saturday (August 28) starting at about 12:30 PM.

For full race results, click here.

From Freehold Raceway