Burke two-year-olds win 11 of the 12 qualifiers

Manalapan, NJ – Ron Burke sent out nearly three dozen 2-year-olds for their first action in harness racing qualifiers Wednesday (June 11) at Gaitway Farm, resulting in 11 winners in the 12 events for the freshmen. Among the trainer’s group was pacing colt Another C Note, who produced the day’s fastest mile.

Yannick Gingras drove 10 of Burke’s winners while Scott Zeron was in the sulky for the remaining one. The only non-Burke winner was pacing colt Apocalypsebluechip (Papi Rob Hanover), who was guided to victory by trainer Joe Bongiorno.

Another C Note, a son of Captaintreacherous-Kate Can’t Wait, stopped the timer in 1:55.2 in the first of four qualifiers for pacing colts. Another C Note was bred by Let It Ride Stables, which shares ownership with Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Scott Dillon.

Al Papi was just one-fifth of a second off his stablemate’s time, winning in 1:55.3. The homebred son of Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr, and Weaver Bruscemi.

Ubrute (Tall Dark Stranger-Warrawee Ubeaut) posted a 1:57.2 victory for Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Crawford Farms Racing, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Phil Collura. The same group bred the colt. Warrawee Ubeaut was a two-time Dan Patch Award winner, and the family also includes O’Brien Award winner Warrawee Needy.

Bongiorno’s Apocalypsebluechip (Papi Rob Hanover-Queen Of Darkness) also triumphed in 1:57.2. He was purchased for $100,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Joseph Bongiorno LLC, and Don Latore. He was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Stephen Demeter, and Stephen Giagni. The colt’s family includes 2017 Pacer of the Year Downbytheseaside.

Kissedbyastranger (Tall Dark Stranger-Kissinyougoodbye) was the fastest pacing filly, with a time of 1:56.1. She was bred by owners Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon. Her family includes Hall of Famer Always B Miki.

She’s A Bulldog (Bulldog Hanover-Band Stand) and Sandyboots Yankee (Always B Miki-A Beach Cowgirl) were next on the list, both winning in 1:56.3. She’s A Bulldog is a homebred for owner Brad Grant. Sandyboots Yankee was purchased for $30,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr, and Phil Collura. She was bred by Yankeeland Partners.

Winning the remaining event for the pacing fillies was With The Fur (Tall Dark Stranger-Apple Bottom Jeans) in 1:56.4 for owner Howard Taylor, who bred the filly with Robert Cooper Stables and Ed Gold. She was purchased for $40,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Zeron drove the day’s fastest trotting colt, piloting Maga Hill (Muscle Hill-Goo Doo Doll) to victory in 1:59.1. Bred by Frank Canzone, he is owned by Zippett Racing Stable and Bill Elliott.

In the two remaining qualifiers for trotting colts, Who’s Eyes Blues (Chapter Seven-Behindblueyes) won in 2:00 and AI (Chapter Seven-Image Of Bee) won in 2:00.2.

Who’s Eyes Blues was purchased for $125,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Hatfield Stables, and Weaver Bruscemi. He was bred by Fair Winds Farm. AI was purchased for $150,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi. He was bred by Steve Jones. His second dam is Hall of Famer Bee A Magician.

Completing the list of Wednesday winners was trotting filly Atlantic Summer (Captain Corey-Perfect Summer K), who scored in 1:59 for owners Burke Racing, James Simpson, Larry Karr, and Weaver Bruscemi. Bred by Winning Key Inc., she was purchased for $50,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale.

Gaitway will again host qualifiers for 2-year-olds on June 18 and June 25.

Race Replays from The First Mile below:

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA