Harness: Burke enjoying the "Seaside" view

Trainer Ron Burke has done what no other trainer has ever managed to accomplish in our sport's history. While setting training records for years, Burke has successfully branched out into the breeding business.

When individual states expanded Sire Stakes programs, Burke and his core investors quickly branched out not just to compete but with the idea of dominating. Like all great business models, the Burke Brigade has broken with norms and found a pathway to conquer. Such is the case with one stallion – Downbytheseaside.

"They are smart horses that like their work," said Burke, describing the sons and daughters of Downbytheseaside he has trained over the years. Specifically for Burke, the ones he has trained fit his conditioning program perfectly, and that has led to enormous success on the racetrack.

A close inspection of the stallion career of Downbytheseaside makes it rather clear that Burke's stable has been a driving force. Six of the top 10 money-winning foals from Downbytheseaside's illustrious career have come from the Burke Brigade, with the top of the list offering a very special horse in the 2022 Little Brown Jug winner Bythemissal.

Pointing to the attributes that Downbytheseaside has passed down to his sons and daughters, Burke was specific about Bythemissal's credentials. "No horse tries harder than him," said Burke of the near $2.2 million winner that not only was dominant in Ohio but throughout North America.

"We focus a lot of our stable on Ohio," said Burke. "Downbytheseaside has been the dominant stallion there."

While other trainers have bought Ohio and stayed in Ohio, Burke has managed to transition his horses using both the Ohio Sires Stakes program and other regional programs to profit. Last Sunday (September 15) saw the world champion Sippinonsearoc finish second behind stablemate Louprint in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series final at The Red Mile. The colt with 100 percent Ohio roots (his dam Queen Ann M earned $374K racing in the Buckeye State), had previously paced to a 1:48 2/5 career-best in a leg of the Kentucky Championships.

"I knew early he had a lot of ability," said Burke of Sippinonsearoc. "We trained him at my farm in 1:56 and no other 2-year-old had ever done that."

Still, transitioning from training center to stakes winner is not always an easy conversion, and Sippinonsearoc has managed it well thus far.

"We'll probably head back to Ohio for his next races," said Burke, who has changed his philosophy this year regarding his younger horses. "I think we may have over-raced some last year," said Burke of efforts in 2023.

While Sippinonsearoc may not have that many starts remaining on his calendar, Burke was more than happy with how Louprint, the winner of the Kentucky Championship Series final following his 1:49 effort on Sunday, has progressed.

"I'm really happy with the way Ronnie (Wrenn Jr.) has handled him," said Burke. "He's never been stressed, and he's just come home strongly each time."

Louprint is by Sweet Lou, and one of many Burke team homebreds that have emerged and profited over the last few years.

While Burke's Ohio-bred was doing well in Kentucky, he sent the undefeated Swingtown into last Saturday's Metro trials at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The half-brother to stakes winners Captain Barbossa and Whichwaytothebeach had the pole position in his trials for driver Chris Page and led throughout the mile, only to be overtaken late by a pair from trainer Tony Alagna's stable. The third-place finish landed Swingtown in the C$1 million Metro final on Saturday (September 21), but the lack of a victory found him drawing outside the favorites with post seven.

"The way he finished up the mile, he looked like he was pulling himself up late in the stretch," said Burke. "We pulled blood on him and it looks like he tied up."

Swingtown, a $160,000 yearling purchase, had been tearing up the competition on the Ohio Sires Stakes circuit, with four victories in individual legs. His Metro elimination was the first time racing on a big track, having dominated over the half- and five-eighths-mile tracks on his tour of Ohio.

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Burke's dominance on the Downbytheseaside list is a combination of his belief in the stallion as well as his willingness to spend more than others to get the better ones.

"I think you can compete outside of Ohio with some of the better pedigrees," said Burke.

It was Sea Silk – the 2021 freshman filly champion in Ohio – that proved that point when she captured a Grand Circuit event at The Red Mile in the fall of that campaign in 1:50 3/5. She then went on to an incredible second-place finish in the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands despite starting from post 10 and racing parked the entire mile for driver Chris Page. Only Niki Hill finished ahead of her in that epic Crown performance.

"Right now, there are only two stallion lines," Burke said. "It's either sons of Somebeachsomewhere (the sire of Downbytheseaside) or Sweet Lou."

While Burke raced and has ownership interest in Sweet Lou, Downbytheseaside's success has captivated him to a point that has led him to breed his own mares to the top Ohio stallion.

"We actually bred a couple of our mares," said Burke of a pair of now-yearlings that he expects to be training this fall. "Dr. J (veterinarian Bridgette Jablonsky) gave both of them high marks."

With just four crops of racing age, Downbytheseaside has established himself throughout North America with an ability to pass on not only high speed but a high degree of toughness. It's that attribute that has seen them be battle-tested and come back for more and more with each passing race. To be fair to the stallion and the others that have benefited from his great success, we'd be remiss if we didn't recognize Pebble Beach, a colt from Downbytheseaside's first crop who garnered instant attention when he dominated the Kentucky Championship program in 2021, exhibiting sub-1:49 speed for the first time in juvenile events at The Red Mile.

While others have recognized Downbytheseaside's stallion prowess, Burke's stable has appeared to come up with some of the more talented sons and daughters over the last few years. As for the need to have sub-1:50 talent to succeed, Burke has changed his attitude.

"It used to be that if you had a 2-year-old that could pace in 1:55 you could make money. Then it was if you had a 2-year-old that could pace in 1:52 you could make money. Today if your 2-year-old can't pace in 1:50 they are going to cost you money," said Burke, who, along with his stable, have found a way to stay ahead of the curve both on the racetrack and in the breeding business, dominating Sire Stakes programs throughout the States and competing at the highest levels on the Grand Circuit.