Harrah's Hoosier Park: Burke Brigade bags both of Thursday's Indiana Sire Stakes contests

Trainer Ron Burke took home the lion's share of both splits of round three of Indiana Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, headlined by On To Norway extending his win streak to nine with a career-best score on Thursday (June 26) at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Leaving widest from all from post six as the 1-2 favorite in the $49,000 first split, driver John De Long settled On To Norway in fourth early while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) cut the quarter in 27 2/5. Operator rolled on the lead to the half in 55 4/5 when Euguene The Genius (Mike Oosting) tipped first-over from third before reaching the leader's wheel at three-quarters in 1:25 2/5 with On To Norway towed into contention second-over.

Wilfong kicked out the plugs on Operator, while On To Norway tipped three-wide around a retreating Eugene The Genius as the sprint for home began. The two leaders raced well clear of the rest, with On To Norway blitzing home in 26 2/5 to nail a game Operator on the wire by a half-length in 1:52 2/5. Fifty Rivers (LeWayne Miller) finished third at 79-1, 6 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

On To Norway has now won nine of ten on the year and 12 of 18 lifetime. Bred by Bennet Farms Inc. of MI, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act now has $125,375 in seasonal earnings and just shy of $150,000 lifetime for owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal.

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In the $49,500 second division, Starlitfranknstein, with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the bike, would get back into the win column following four consecutive second-place efforts.

Tetrick landed the 1-20 favorite in fourth from post six in the field of seven while Ponda Rocky (Atlee Bender) grabbed an early lead through a quarter of 27 4/5. Ponda Rocky went unchallenged to the half in 56 3/5 before Tetrick angled the favorite out from fourth, grinding first-over into second in pursuit of Ponda Rocky through three-quarters in 1:25 2/5.

After turning for home, Ponda Rocky held a firm lead, with Starlitfranknstein still having a length to make up at the eighth pole. Starlitfranknstein continued to wear down the leader late, inching in before getting to the wire first by a neck in 1:54. Kody Kickstand (Marcus Miller) got the nod in a four-horse photo for show spot, two lengths behind the winner.

Starlitfraknstein was won three of seven on the season while yet to be worse than second. The son of Swan For All-Southern Lily has banked $69,000 on the season and went over $260,000 in career earnings for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Beasty LLC. and Frank Baldachino. Starlitfranknstein was bred by John Wagler.

Racing continues on Friday, July 27 with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. The Friday night card features two divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in races three and 12.

--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--