Gingras, Burke combo sweep four co-features

CHESTER, PA – Harness racing driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke came loaded for bear on the “Trottin’ Thursday” card at Harrah’s Philadelphia, sweeping the four features on the card.

Frontending in the featured $16,200 event was the Father Patrick gelding Patriarch Hanover, who stepped home in :57.2 to complete a 1:55.2 victory, with $800,000-winning pocketsitter Fashion Creditor 1¼ lengths behind while holding the deuce in a photo with the late-flying Baldaquin.

A six-figure winner at two, three, and four, Patriarch Hanover now sports a bankroll of $382,326 for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Bill Switala and James Martin.

PATRIARCH HANOVER REPLAY

Also using the pacesetting position as a springboard to victory was the Kadabra sophomore trotting colt Tokyo Seelster, who joined the Burke Brigade in early November and here sped home in :57 to lower his lifetime mark to 1:54.3 in 38-degree temperatures.

The winner of $216,747 withstood determined favorite Redwhite N Goo by three-quarters of a length for owners by Michael and Sam Sergi in one of two $15,300 co-features.

TOKOYO SEELSTER REPLAY

The only member of the victorious Team Gingras-Burke quartet who did not control the throttle was the Guccio gelding Bluebird Rocky, who circled wide from second-over late on the far turn then ran down leader Bountiful Britney by a length in 1:55.3 in the other $15,300 co-headliner.

Bluebird Rocky is yet another member of the profitable partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

BLUEBIRD ROCKY

Gingras and Burke also took the sub-feature for the fast class set, a $13,000 contest, with local newcomer Hat Trick Marleau (who completed a “natural hat trick” for the duo that was fronted by Tokyo Seelster and Patriarch Hanover).

The Crazed gelding took a new mark of 1:55.1, also using the front end then holding off pocketsitter Wings Of Speed by three parts of a length. Gingras also co-owns the winner with Frank Canzone.

Gingras wound up with five winners on the card all together, while Burke’s four-bagger puts him 21 ahead with five cards to go in 2021 as he goes for his ninth training title in the 16-year history of the track.

A trio of $14,400 contests, one each for trotters, male pacers, and female pacers, top the Christmas Eve card at Harrah’s Philly, which will have a special post time of 12:00 noon. Program pages for the pre-holiday card are available by clicking here.

For full race results, click here.

From the PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia