Delaware County Fair: Page, Burke sweep in Ohio Breeders Championships

Sea Silk, already with wins in the State Fair and Sires Stakes Championship in her pocket, polished off an Ohio Triple Crown season by taking her $67,185 Breeders Championship for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair in a stakes record 1:53 1/5.

Driven by Chris Page, Sea Silk settled in third early on from post two but moved up on the outside to take command just beyond the 28 3/5 opening quarter. After landing on the point, Sea Silk would go on to click off a half in 57 2/5 and a three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, with Dragon Lady (Aaron Merriman) advancing to challenge her from first-over on the final bend. Sea Silk responded to the attack and fended off Dragon Lady, then pulled away in the lane to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Dragon Lady wound up second, and Cold Hearted Gypsy (Chris Lems) was third.

Ron Burke trains the undefeated (eight-for-eight) daughter of Downbytheseaside-Silk Purse (Bettor's Delight) for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc., and Hatfield Stables. Sea Silk, who was bred by Steiner Stock Farm and sold for $47,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has banked $373,592 and paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

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Page and Burke also won another Ohio Breeders Championship division with another rookie filly by Downbytheseaside, Cape Cod Hanover, in 1:53 3/5. Cape Cod Hanover pulled out of the pocket to pass Spitting Image (Mike Wilder) before the 28 1/5 quarter and continued to show the way at a 57 2/5 half and a 1:25 1/5 three-quarters. Hotshot Temptress (Merriman) put in a game first-over effort after tipping out from fourth on the second turn and charging into second, but Cape Cod Hanover gave her the cold shoulder and went on to prevail by a length and three-quarters in 1:53 3/5. Hotshot Temptress was next, followed by Spitting Image.

Cape Cod Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, out of the Artsplace mare Clouding Over, and purchased for $20,000 at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Ras Racing LLC. She has a record of 6-2-0 from eight appearances and has put away $214,142. She was sent off at 1-5 and returned $2.60 to win.