The prolific pair of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras were up to their old tricks Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Meadowlands, combining to win four times on the 12-race program.
Windsong Jack got the dynamic duo off to a good start in the second race pace, the $17,500 Dash For The “G” Notes final, as the eight-year-old gelded son of Santanna Blue Chip-Milliondollarsmile, who won his preliminary a week ago by eight-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:51.1, was up for what was almost a repeat performance.
The result was never in doubt as the 1-9 public choice cut out all of the fractions before hitting the wire six-and-a-half lengths in front of Joes Bid in a season’s-best equaling 1:51.1. He paid $2.20 to win.
Rockn Motion, a regular earlier this season on the Kentucky Sire Stakes circuit, beat a solid field of conditioned pacers in race five. The son of Pet Rock-Graceful Motion, who was unraced at two, was the only three-year-old in the field and held sway through the stretch despite getting steppy with an eighth of a mile to go to hold off even-money choice Ocean Colony by a head.
As the 8-5 second choice, Rockn Motion paid $5.20 after completing the mile in 1:52.1.
The Burke-Gingras pairing struck again in the seventh, scoring with another three-year-old – Dragon Time – who was good enough to beat older foes in a high-range conditioned pace in 1:51.3.
The gelded son of Bettors Delight-Little Miss Dragon slipped out of the three hole at three-quarters before angling through the stretch with steady pace to gun down pacesetter and eventual third-place finisher Geez Joe. Dragon Time hit the wire three-quarter lengths in front of Burkentine Hanover and paid $14.00 as the third choice in the wagering. Veteran Bettors Edge was sent to the gate as the 3-5 choice, but after working out a perfect pocket trip came up empty at crunch time.
Burke and Gingras completed their four-bagger with Magnum Mike, a 10-year-old son of Magical Mike-Dare To Dream, in the 10th race claiming handicap pace.
Racing out of the Burke barn for the first time, Magnum Mike was sent to the gate as the 2-1 favourite and delivered on that promise after following perfect cover while second over. He paid $6.40 after pacing his mile in 1:52.2, a lifetime best, and three-and-a-half lengths back to second-place finisher Glass Prince.
Frosh trotters contested in divisions of the Garden State Trot early in the card. Battenberg took the $50,000 colt and gelding division with an on-the-front effort for trainer Joe Holloway and driver Corey Callahan in progress to a 1:56.1 nose victory.
The Crawford Farms Racing and Val D'Or Farms-owned colt by Trixton set splits of :29.2, :59 and 1:27.3 before spinning into the stretch and withstanding a late bid from Hudson River swooping towards the front but settling for second. Pocket-sitter No Drama Please also narrowed on the leader but finished a half-length back in third.
Off at odds of 7-1, Battenberg returned $16.80.
In the $55,000 filly split Princess Deo launched from second over to post a 1:56.2 win over odds-on choice Evident Beauty. Driver Andrew McCarthy placed the Noel Daley-trained filly by Trixton fourth as Special Honor set fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:27.2 on the top.
With Golden Tricks carrying Princess Deo into competition around the final turn, McCarthy pulled the plug into the lane and powered clear while Evident Beauty recouped ground but settled for second one-and-a-quarter lengths behind. Golden Tricks took third.
Deo Volente Farms LLC, Noel Daley, Thomas Pontone and John Fodera own the $11.00 winner.
A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy won the third race to up his meet-leading driver win total to 14.
Kyle Husted got his first training and driving winner of the meet, steering 3-2 favourite Terror Of The Nite to victory lane in the sixth.
All-source wagering totaled $2,077,898.
Racing resumes Friday, Nov. 16 at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from the Meadowlands)