When trainer Ron Burke shipped Meadowlands Pace hopeful Sweet Lou to the New Jersey oval early to familiarize him with the track, even he couldn’t have expected the results he got.
With Burke driving, Sweet Lou blistered a training mile Saturday at the Meadowlands in 1:49, serving notice to all that he’s ready to avenge his defeat as the favourite in the final of the Pepsi North America Cup.
“It was as easy as a horse can go in 1:49,” said Burke, who has rigged the son of Yankee Cruiser-Sweet Future with aluminum shoes and longer hopples for Saturday’s eliminations. “We had three watches catching him in 1:49, so it’s definite. I’m not sure anyone’s ever trained one faster.”
Burke, who opted for a training mile over a qualifier — “I decided nobody would go with him in a qualifier” — said the 2011 Dan Patch Award winner completed his spectacular trip under wraps.
“He did it really on his own,” Burke said. “I was trying to shut him down, actually. He was a grabbed-up 1:49.”
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Phillip Collura own Sweet Lou, who is ticketed for the Delvin Miller Adios at his home track, The Meadows, following the Meadowlands Pace. The draw for Meadowlands Pace elims is Tuesday.
(The Meadows)