Meadowlands: Burke well-represented in weekend stakes

Perennial leading trainer Ron Burke once again enters this weekend's stakes-filled action at the Meadowlands with a group of impressive older performers for Saturday's array of events and a large supply of freshmen for Friday's first leg of the Kindergarten Series.

Saturday's action finds the return of the elite It's Academic to the racing wars in the $131,250 Crawford Farms (race 10), making his 7-year-old debut following a string of three straight qualifying miles.

"I just couldn't get a race for him," said Burke bluntly of the three non-purse prep events that will hopefully have the winner of $951K in 2023 prepared for another big season.

It's Academic (post six) appeared ready for racing action following a June 1 1:51 4/5 second-place finish in a qualifier, but with no races filling Burke waited three weeks and then qualified It's Academic once again at Gaitway Farm on June 20 with a solid, if slower, 1:54 3/5 effort.

On Saturday, It's Academic faces six rivals, including stablemate Hillexotic (post four) in the Crawford Farms.

"He's finally come around," said Burke of Hillexotic, a pace-setting sixth in the Cutler at the Meadowlands in May and more recently a winner of an Invitational at Yonkers on June 20 in 1:53 3/5 over the half-mile oval.

The Crawford also features last year's Breeders Crown champion Southwind Tyrion (post three) and 2024 Maxie Lee winner Venerate (post five).

Burke is really looking forward to the return of Spy Coast in a Reynolds Memorial division for sophomore trotting fillies. Last seen finishing fourth in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final on May 31, Spy Coast, a winner in her first three starts this year, looks to bounce back.

"We tested her blood after the Sire Stakes final and it was not perfect. She trained back super last Monday," said Burke of the Walner-sired filly who meets eight rivals in the $25,667 event carded as race seven.

With the Hambletonian date coming closer into the picture, Burke appears pragmatic of the progress of last year's outstanding freshman T C I. The Cantab Hall-sired colt has captured both of his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races this year over five-eighths mile tracks and won easily, if not convincingly, on both occasions.

"He's been good," said Burke. "He definitely likes the big track more and I think this race will be better for him."

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A winner in 10 of his 12 races as a freshman, T C I (post six) may start showing the speed needed to make him a contender on Hambletonian Day and Burke is wary of the schedule.

"We want to have him as perfect as possible for the Hambletonian," said Burke, not wanting to excessively tax his top sophomore in advance of the $1 million event on the first Saturday in August.

Saturday's $34,750 Reynolds division (race nine) finds him missing rival Karl (race six) but facing eight others, including last year's New Jersey Classic winner Sig Sauer, who is making his first start as a sophomore in the event. Sig Sauer landed post five.

Karl drew post six in his eight horse $34,250 Reynolds division (race six) for sophomore male trotters and appears a prohibitive choice while looking for his fourth straight victory this year without defeat for trainer Nancy Takter.

The $112,500 Six Pack for trotting mares kicks off the Saturday stakes program in the second race, and Burke's M-M's Dream looks to rebound following her first loss of the year in the June 15 Armbro Flight at Woodbine Mohawk Park where she finished second behind Call Me Goo.

"It's not like her to wait on other horses like she did in that race," said Burke of M-M's Dream being out-kicked near the wire by Call Me Goo.

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In Saturday's short field M-M's Dream will start from post five outside Call Me Goo (post two), as well as the superstar of the division Jiggy Jog S (post one).

While recognizing the obstacles, Burke isn't worried about competing against the quality mares to M-M's Dream's inside.

"She's beaten Jiggy Jog S in the past," Burke said.

While it's quite early to stake claims about how good one's 2-year-olds are, Burke pointed to a few from his stable that a worth considering in Friday's Kindergarten.

"Hidalgo (race two) has progressed nicely," Burke said. "Of course he cost $600,000."

"Yannick (Gingras) really likes Shes A Streaker (post nine, race four)," Burke said of the Huntsville-sired filly that cost $80,000 at last year's Harrisburg auction. Shes A Streaker has won consecutive qualifiers at Gaitway Farms, with the last a 1:54 3/5 effort on June 20.

"David's (Miller) very high on Railroad Station," Burke said of the Sweet Lou-sired colt purchased last fall in Lexington for $110,000.

Railroad Station (post nine) faces eight others in Friday's sixth race Kindergarten division for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Also a winner in a pair of qualifying miles at Gaitway, Railroad Station kicked home in 26 4/5, completing a 1:56 4/5 mile on June 20 in preparation for his career debut on Friday.

The Meadowlands cards this weekend commence at 6:20 P.M. (EDT) each night and offer 14 races.