Breeders Crown: Burke quartet looks to hit a high note versus undefeated Beau Jangles

It's not often that a trainer has a four-to-one advantage in a horse race and finds himself the underdog. Such is the position trainer Ron Burke faces on Friday night in the $700,000 Breeders Crown final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Despite having four horses of impeccable quality in the field, Burke knows he's got a big mountain to climb if any are to become the first horse to beat Beau Jangles.

"We're going to have to pick up some speed to catch him," said Burke bluntly when asked about his numbers advantage. "That's a great horse. We can't just let him get the front and back down the pace."

Burke's reference point was last week's elimination race where two of his top colts took shots at Beau Jangles going to the quarter, but neither was able to outsprint the unbeaten son of Cattlewash as Bob McClure made certain he had control of the race by sizzling to the quarter in 26 seconds before slowing the pace through the middle-half.

"Frantic Hanover and Ubrute scoped bad, so I think I could get them a little better for this week, but I'm not sure it's going to be enough," said Burke. "Melillo was loaded and was probably a winner two steps past the wire. Al Papi was right there off a wicked half."

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Burke's four horses are all stakes winners and enter the race with sub-1:50 credits. It's a remarkable feat and perhaps in any other year would give him a decided advantage in a race to determine the division winner. In 2025 it's just not the case as Beau Jangles has been flawless, with no signs of slowing down. Burke has had his share of great horses and wasn't shying away from giving full credit to what he's seen.

"He just may very well be the next great horse," said Burke of Beau Jangles. "I'm not surprised with how he's being driven. If I had a horse like that, I would want to put everyone in behind me. We're going to have to find a way to mix it up and see if that works."

The draw may have worked better in the final than it did for Burke in last Friday's (October 17) elimination races, with Melillo (post three), Al Papi (post four) and Frantic Hanover (post five) all finding spots behind the gate inside of Beau Jangles (post six). Ubrute, a son of a pair of Breeders Crown champions in Tall Dark Stranger and Warrawee Ubeaut, landed post nine. Ubrute worked hard last week to try to get in front of Beau Jangles but eventually driver Yannick Gingras had to put him in the pocket where he stayed throughout, unable to make up ground through a 26 2/5 final quarter.

A total of seven of the 10 horses in Friday's ninth race Crown final have lifetime records of 1:50 or better, and while that number would have been unheard of a few years back, it has become more commonplace.

"I've said this now for the last couple of years, but I think there's going to be a point where 2-year-olds will hold all of the world records," Burke said. "They are coming to their speed much faster, and they haven't been hurt."

The last point is critical, as Burke well knows that soundness allows horses to race much faster.

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While Burke has four in the field, he's not alone in the quest to take down Beau Jangles. Brandon Blvd (post two) became the fastest 2-year-old in Canadian history with his 1:48 4/5 victory in the other elimination race. With seven wins in nine starts this year, Brandon Blvd enters the Crown final on a three-race winning streak that included back-to-back Grand Circuit scores at The Red Mile. Dexter Dunn picked up the driving assignment following a second-place finish in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series final on September 14 at The Red Mile, with Tim Tetrick opting for Frantic Hanover.

In last week's elimination, Brandon Blvd did have the benefit of a three-hole trip through first-half fractions of 25 2/5 and 52 4/5, and that certainly was to his advantage when Al Papi moved first on the final turn and provided him with ideal cover. That said, Brandon Blvd did have something left when it counted most.

"He's push-button. Any trip you want to give him it seems like he can do it," said Brandon Blvd's trainer Andrew Harris at the post draw. "He seems like he can take a lot of air, so I just have to hope the Burke crew can rough up Beau Jangles a bit and set it up."

Perhaps working for Beau Jangles in Friday's contest is the advantage of having the best horse, and one that has proven to be controllable and reliable when called upon. Beau Jangles gave the appearance that he was fired up in the early stages of his elimination, yet managed to go from a 26 second first quarter to a 28 3/5 second quarter without a struggle. When put to a challenge by both of Burke's horses – Frantic Hanover to his outside and Ubrute behind – he just paced away as if it was a one-horse race.

While great horses all get beaten, Beau Jangles may be out to prove that the adage is outdated when ascribed to him. The idea of making Beau Jangles work harder makes sense if in fact it tires him out. Burke's concern seems to be that the other nine horses will pay a bigger price for overuse.

What's unknown and something that could be revealed in Friday's final is what the wear and tear of 11 races have had on Beau Jangles. Trainer Dr. Ian Moore had suggested a few weeks ago that it was a concern of his following the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final victory on October 10 before he committed to racing in the Breeders Crown.

"No matter what happens with this colt on Friday night it's been a heck of a ride," said Moore after the post draw. "I'm looking forward to a good race."

Burke's fastest 2-year-old pacer happens to be a filly, and Loua Dipa will be a heavy favorite to capture the $700,000 Breeders Crown in her division (race seven).

"Training down she didn't appear to be as good as her sister (Looksgoodinloulou)," said Burke. "But she just kept getting better."

Loua Dipa is another by Burke's former champion Sweet Lou that has now proven to be a dominant pacing sire. Burke has seen what Sweet Lou has accomplished when bred to a multitude of broodmare crosses and is looking forward to the next chapter.

"I can't wait to see what the Sweet Lou mares will do when mated with the Somebeachsomewhere line," Burke said, perhaps with a vision of the first 1:46 2-year-old in mind.