Harrah's Hoosier Park: "Burke Brigade" out in full force for Friday stakes

Trainer Ron Burke is hoping for a rebound of sorts this Friday night as he sends out an arsenal of sophomore pacers in a pair of stake events at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Burke has half of the 10-horse field entered in the $160,000 Monument Circle for sophomore male pacers and four of the 10 pacing fillies set to go in the $125,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial.

The fillies will go first as race 13 on the 14-race program, with Loua Dipa, Burke's Jugette winner, returning to the track for what could be the last time in her storied career. The homebred by Sweet Lou was the divisional champion as a freshman in 2025, but an attempt to repeat in this year's Breeders Crown was thwarted when she finished seventh in an elimination race on October 17 at Scioto Downs.

"Me and Ronnie (Wrenn Jr.) usually agree," said Burke of race strategy. "He thought she would be fine coming from off-the-pace, and I thought he should have put her in play. Either way she wasn't at her best."

Following a pair of post eight draws and disappointing efforts from off-the-pace, Burke took matters into his own hands with Loua Dipa.

"I got her back and trained her myself the other day and thought she was better," said Burke of Loua Dipa, who drew post five on Friday in hopes of reasserting her dominance, at least on this part of the sophomore pacing division.

"We'll see how she races on Friday," said Burke. "This could be her last race."

Burke said regardless of the outcome in the USS Indianapolis, Loua Dipa will become a broodmare in 2027.

While Loua Dipa has been struggling, She's A Bulldog has come on strongly towards the end of the year and finds a solid spot with post four on Friday.

"I think if she gets through, she wins the Breeders Crown," said Burke with confidence that the daughter of Bulldog Hanover is razor-sharp right now.

She's A Bulldog finished a solid second in her Breeders Crown elimination race but had road trouble in the final, kicking home in 26 1/5 despite not having a clear path.

"She's really good right now. She got good at the end of the year last year as well," said Burke, noting that She's A Bulldog captured last year's Three Diamonds over stablemate Loua Dipa in her final freshman start.

I'm A Lou Lou (post two), who is HIP 1373 in the Nov. 6 Mixed Sale at Harrisburg, and Seaside Shuffle (post 10), who is HIP 1377, round out Burke's foursome in the USS Indianapolis.

Breeders Crown runner-up Whoomp returns to her home track for this contest, and the daughter of Rockin Image has been impeccably-consistent this year, finishing first or second in all 13 of her races. Whoomp drew post eight for trainer Roger Welch with regular pilot John De Long in the bike.

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Burke has strength in numbers and talent as well in the $160,000 Monument Circle.

"I think Melillo is my best shot," said Burke, dissecting his quintet of starters. "He got into a bad position in the Breeders Crown and had to do too much of the work. I think he'll bounce back."

Melillo had the early lead in the Breeders Crown but would inevitably cede it to stablemate Al Papi. The result of that decision left the Sweet Lou-sired colt in third when eventually race-winner Brandon Blvd took command before the half. Melillo and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. were all-out trying to clear Brandon Blvd in the third quarter and tired in the homestretch.

Al Papi had the benefit of the pocket in the Breeders Crown but couldn't track down Brandon Blvd in a swift 1:48 mile. He'll likely tackle his stablemate for top honors in this field.

"I keep forgetting that post 10 is actually a good draw at Hoosier," said Burke, reflecting on the spot Al Papi will start from that puts him in the second tier with an option to follow any horse at the outset.

Burke is hoping that Be Sting (post three) will begin to shine in just his fourth start since joining the stable. The sophomore gelding by Perfect Sting showed enough promise in his first start (a 1:50 3/5 victory at The Red Mile) that he entered the Breeders Crown. Be Sting broke at the start in last Friday's (October 23) Circle City at Hoosier Park and gets a change of driver this week.

"I think Toddy (McCarthy) will fit him nicely," said Burke.

Frantic Hanover (post eight) was one of Burke's best freshmen in 2025, with seven wins in a dozen starts, but this year he's only won one time in 14 trips to post.

"I think he was very good in his last start," said Burke of Frantic Hanover. "That Open at The Meadows is a very tough race."

Frantic Hanover finished a close second in his prep for the Monument Circle on October 23 at The Meadows.

Swiss Lights (post one) has been a force on the Indiana Sire Stakes circuit this year with seasonal earnings approaching $400K for trainer Jeff Cullipher. The Rockin Image-sired gelding has won half of his 14 starts to date and been on the board in all of them. Most recently, Swiss Lights is riding a two-race win streak that includes a win in the $250,000 Indiana Sire Stakes final on October 9 over this surface.

Trotting fans at Hoosier will get a chance to see Big Ranger in action in the $200,000 Carl Erskine Memorial (race 11). Big Ranger hopes to bounce back from a third-place finish in the Breeders Crown where he was among a multitude of well-backed horses that could not hold on to the lead over a track that appeared to favor closers. Big Ranger should be a heavy favorite in this field of eight from post six for trainer Anette Lorentzon and driver Tim Tetrick.

The $140,000 Crossroads Of America (race 12) looks to be the most competitive of the four Grand Circuit races on Friday, with trainer Nancy Takter's three sophomore trotting fillies lining up in-a-row behind the starting car. Leading Lady, Godusa and Madam Cheval (posts three through five, respectively) have all had their moments this year. Trainer Roger Welch could surprise the Takter-trained girls with For Dayze, a daughter of Swan For All that has only missed the board once in 22 lifetime starts. Dayze drew post eight.

First post for Friday's Hoosier Park card is 5:30 P.M. (EDT), and the track will offer a $20,000 guaranteed pool on the for stakes races that close out the program.