The Meadows: Burke sweeps Saturday's PA Sire Stakes events

Literl Lad Hanover and Southwind Gendry gave trainer Ron Burke victories in both Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings that took place on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows. Each horse also picked up a new lifetime-best clocking.

Burke had a trio in the first $76,728 flight, but one of them, 3-5 favorite Lou's Pearlman (Yannick Gingras), made a break on the first turn while sitting third, taking him out of contention. Meanwhile, another Burke trainee, Lunar (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) set up shop on the point and carved out fractions of 26 4/5, 56, and 1:23, with Hellabalou (Andrew McCarthy) moving up first-over into second at three-quarters.

Hellabalou was able to sustain his bid around the last turn and into the lane, forging his way past Lunar to take a narrow advantage. However, Literl Lad Hanover (David Miller), who had tucked in fourth from post seven and then slipped out second-over on the final bend, rallied strongly three-wide and got up to win by a head in 1:51 1/5. Stonebridge Reef (Dexter Dunn) had a pocket trip and came up the passing lane for second, and Water Sports Teen (Scott Zeron) closed from sixth to third in the back-half of the mile.

"I think we've found the way to race him - he'll be a closer for a while," Burke said. "We opened him up today. Last week at the Meadowlands he was hot and didn't want to sit in a hole, he didn't want to relax. I think that made a big difference."

A Somebeachsomewhere colt, Literl Lad Hanover is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Wingfield Five LLC. Literl Lad Hanover picked up his second win from 16 tries, and he has now earned $140,112. Dismissed as the second-longest price on the board at 17-1, Literl Lad Hanover paid $36.60 to win.

In the other $77,128 split, Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears) pressed on two-wide and worked his way around Burke trainee Summa Cum Laude (Dunn) to take the top spot after the 26 4/5 opening quarter, but Southwind Gendry (Gingras), was hot on Chase H Hanover's heels, and Southwind Gendry became the new boss well before the 55 2/5 half. Summa Cum Laude would then be flushed out first-over from third after the half, and he would get to within about half a length of his stablemate at the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters.

Summa Cum Laude continued to try hard around the last turn, but he couldn't get any closer to Southwind Gendry, and then began to fade as Southwind Gendry turned for home. Through the stretch, Chase H Hanover took a shot at Southwind Gendry in the passing lane, but Southwind Gendry had plenty left in reserve and reported home three-quarters of a length to the good in a 1:49 4/5 mile. Sweet Angel Boy (Tim Tetrick) was the third-place finisher.

"I thought I had the best horse, so I put him in the race," Gingras said. "He's come back great. He's filled out nice, He looks great and feels great."

Southwind Gendry, an Always B Miki gelding, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Last year's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, Southwind Gendry now has a record of 11-0-1 from 14 appearances, and he pushed his bankroll to $621,633. The 1-2 favorite, he returned $3.00 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association--