Dayton: Burke Brigade bats three-for-four in Ohio Sires Stakes finals for pacers

Trainer Ron Burke won three times and driver Todd McCarthy had a double in the four Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championships for pacers on Saturday night at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway.

Burke and McCarthy teamed up to take the 3-year-old colt and gelding final, worth $400,000, with Harrisburg Heist. Part of a Burke five-pack in the event, Harrisburg Heist tucked in fifth from post eight while stablemates Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Sippinonsearoc, the 1-5 favorite driven by Yannick Gingras) put up opening-half fractions of 25 3/5 and 53 4/5.

McCarthy had Harrisburg Heist out and moving first-up prior to the half, advanced into second before the 1:21 2/5 three-quarters and kept plugging away on the rim on the final bend. Sippinonsearoc was game on the lead and Swingtown had the passing lane in the stretch, but Harrisburg Heist had more to give to the outside and wound up with the win by half a length in a track record 1:48 3/5. Swingtown was second, followed by Sippinonsearoc.

"I was really happy with him in Kentucky and Ronnie was really confident with the horse going in tonight," McCarthy relayed. "He said to me 'if you can kind of figure out a trip where he can be close, I think he's got a shot.' Full credit to him, he had him spot-on there tonight and it was a fun race.

"He felt really good down the backstretch and I was just kind of trying to time it where I was going to ask him. When I did coming off the turn he really dug in for me. At that point I figured that we were going to be pretty close there by the wire. He raced huge and just full credit to the horse."

Bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz, Harrisburg Heist is a gelded son of Downbytheseaside. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Harrisburg Heist made his ninth trip to the winner's circle, has earned $483,777 and paid $47.80 to win.

After Burke-trained 1-2 favorite Shacarri (Chris Page) broke on the first turn in the $300,000 2-year-old filly pace, it was left to She'safirewoman (Luke Hanners) to set the tempo of 27 1/5, 56 and 1:24. She'safirewoman was able to fend off a first-over attack from Laude Da (Gingras) and turned for home first, but Burke-trained Seaside Shuffle (Wrenn Jr.) rallied in the passing lane from the pocket to nail She'safirewoman by a nose on the wire in a track record 1:51 3/5. Laude Da, who also hails from the Burke stable, was a game third.

A daughter of Downbytheseaside bred by Billy Walters and Joe McLead, Seaside Shuffle competes for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC. She has four wins, a second and three thirds from nine starts, has banked $313,062 and returned $10.40 to win.

"This is fantastic. This is why we do it, kind of culminates the year and then we've got to get ready for next year," said Kris Brechler of Knox Services Inc. "I thought she'd be good. She's been racing really good competition in Lexington and holding her own. I just thought she'd come up here and be really good."

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In the $300,000 final for rookie colts and geldings, Burke trainee Lindy Dragonwater (Page) pressed forward on the outside to hit the front after the 26 3/5 quarter. Lindy Dragonwater remained the boss through middle-half fractions of 55 and 1:22 4/5 and prevailed by two lengths in a track record in 1:51. Burke trainees When Is Parade (Dunn) and Backninebar (Tim Tetrick) checked in second and third, respectively.

"[He's] a big, growthy colt. I think he was one of Dr. J's [Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky] favorites when she picked him out," Page stated. "I've just been real patient with him, just did things his way and let him progress at his own pace. Tonight it paid off with a track record.

"Once I got the lead, I kept things rolling right along. He just felt real good tonight."

Lindy Dragonwater is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Beasty LLC. and Brad Grant. The Downbytheseaside gelding, bred by Lindy Farms, has a summary of 5-0-1 from eight appearances, has put away $290,680 and paid $3.40 to win.

McCarthy's other winner was 3-year-old filly Prolific Fire in 1:50. After an early battle in the $300,000 test with 1-9 favorite Odds On Chesapeake (Dunn), McCarthy yielded to sit in the two-hole and stalked the chalk to the 55 second half and the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters. McCarthy wheeled Prolific Fire to the outside in the drive to the wire, and she was able to out-finish Odds On Chesapeake for the victory by three-parts of a length. Skywalker Sea (A. Hanners) collected third.

"She's a very nice filly. She behaved herself well, she's got a great attitude, and she's great-gaited. My first time driving there but she's a pleasure," McCarthy offered. "She just felt really good coming off the turn there. I'd watched a couple of her replays and I knew she'd give a pretty good kick late. We were just in the right spot. It worked out."

A daughter of Catch The Fire bred by Spring Haven Farm, Prolific Fire was sent out by Todd Luther for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC. She's a five-time victor from 23 trips behind the gate, has pocketed $417,445 and returned $10.20 to win.

"Her last two starts have been really good. The way she trained this week, when we drew the rail, I knew we were going to be in a great spot," Todd Luther stated. "When I saw Todd had a big lap-full and the way she's been, I knew we were going to make it a race.

"She grew up and she's been really good. Earlier in the year we had a bunch of tie-up issues with her. We got that figured out, and it's kind of a family horse. We bought her from Brian and Jenny Brown after she qualified, so it's fun all around."