Dover: Burke barn sweeps Matron races for rookie pacers

Ron Burke trainees Continualou and Southwind Gendry, who both raced in Breeders Crown finals just six nights ago, showed no ill effects from the quick turnaround and ship in from Harrah's Hoosier Park as they turned in track record miles in their respective Matron events for 2-year-old pacers on Thursday at Dover Downs.

Driven by David Miller in the $170,700 filly pace, Continualou was fifth at the 26 4/5 opening quarter but came with an impressive brush that carried her to the lead around stablemate Paulas Bet Hanover (Yannick Gingras) before the 55 3/5 half. Continualou maintained control to the 1:23 three-quarters, then responded when Paulas Bet Hanover moved to the outside on the far turn, drawing away to win by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:50 2/5. Paulas Bet Hanover held second over Darby Hanover (Andy Miller).

Continualou, who won her Breeders Crown elimination at 92-1 before finishing a gaining fourth in the final, is a daughter of Sweet Lou owned and bred by Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She now has four wins and two second-place finishes from 13 appearances, and she has earned $262,955. Continualou is the first foal out of the Real Artist mare Continual Velocity (1:50 2/5, $558,980), and she returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 choice.

In the $193,000 colt pace, Bayfield Beach (Andrew McCarthy) zipped to the point from post two and reached the quarter in 26 1/5. Exploit (Joe Bongiorno) came to the outside from the pocket on the way to the 54 2/5 half, but he was unable to advance and went back into the two-hole, leaving Southwind Gendry (Gingras) to take up the chase from first-over. Southwind Gendry got into second at the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, then continued to battle with Bayfield Beach around the final bend and into the lane. Southwind Gendry finally wore down the pace-setter for good in the stretch and kicked clear to prevail by a length and a half in 1:50. Southwind Petyr followed Southwind Gendry from second-over and was the runner-up, and Bayfield Beach wound up third.

Ron Burke trains Southwind Gendry, a gelding from the first crop of Always B Miki, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Southwind Gendry, who was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and went for $30,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 10-0-1 from 13 tries, and he has now banked $583,069. Southwind Gendry is the sixth foal out of the Cam's Card Shark mare Gambler's Passion (1:50 4/5, $123,100), a three-quarter sister to Geez Joe (Roll With Joe, 1:47 4/5, $332,632). Sent off at 1-5 after taking his Breeders Crown elimination and then coming in third in the final, Southwind Gendry returned $2.60 to win.