Dover Downs: Burke sweeps Matrons for three-year-old pacers, one in a dead-heat

Trainer Ron Burke ended up winning both Matrons for 3-year-old pacers on Thursday night at Dover Downs with Youaremycandygirl (filly) and This Is The Plan (colt and gelding), although he had to share top billing in the latter contest with Jeff Gillis-trained The Downtown Bus.

The colts and geldings competed in race ten for a purse of $193,750, and Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron) grabbed control away from This Is The Plan (Tim Tetrick) passing the 25 3/5 opening quarter. Jimmy Freight continued on to the half in 54 4/5, and at that point 4-5 choice Lather Up (Montrell Teague) pulled first-up from fourth, giving cover to Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and The Downtown Bus (Corey Callahan).

Lather Up called it a night up the backstretch, though, and that forced Dorsoduro Hanover three-wide to the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters, with The Downtown Bus following that move and then assuming the second-over position. While that was going on in the outer tier, Jimmy Freight and This Is The Plan were still first and second on the inside as the field turned for home.

When the passing lane became available, Tetrick fired This Is The Plan through, and The Downtown Bus was cut loose three-wide late on the final bend. Jimmy Freight tried to hold off the challengers to the wire, but he would give way in the shadow of the wire, with This Is The Plan and The Downtown Bus hitting the finish line together in 1:49 1/5. Jimmy Freight had to settle for third, just a nose behind.

This Is The Plan, a Somebeachsomewhere gelding, is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Silva Purnel And Libby, and Larry Karr. This Is The Plan, who was 15-1 and returned $17.00 to win, made his sixth appearance in the winner's circle.

A Mach Three gelding, The Downtown Bus was also bred and is co-owned by Gillis with partner Ellen Ott. The Downtown Bus, who was winless last year, visited the winner's cirdcle for the 11th time in 2018. Dispatched at 19-1, he paid $20.60 to win.

The $159,350 Matron for the ladies was much less dramatic, with Youaremycandygirl (Yannick Gingras) leading Burke stablemate Percy Bluechip (Kakaley) through panels of 27 2/5, 56 2/5, and 1:23 3/5, then defeating her by a length and a quarter in a 1:51 3/5 performance. Alexa's Power (Tetrick) sat on the cones in the three-hole and finished there.

Youaremycandygirl is a daughter of American Ideal trained by Burke for owner W.J. Donovan. This was her 18th career victory, and she has now earned $1,445,648. The 1-5 favorite, she returned $2.40 to win.