The Meadows: PA Sire Stakes sweep for Burke Brigade

Trainer Ron Burke won the pair of $93,191 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old filly trotters that were held on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows, prevailing with Sister Sledge and Crucial, both by Father Patrick.

Sister Sledge, who made last Saturday's Hambletonian final but broke on the last turn and wound up eighth, led all the way today with Dave Palone in the bike. She went right to the top from the outside post six, put up fractions of 27, 55 4/5, and 1:23 4/5, and tallied by 2 1/2 lengths in a stakes record clocking of 1:52. Dip Me Hanover (David Miller) was second from the pocket, and Queen Of The Hill (Dexter Dunn) finished third.

"That was a weird race," said Burke of the Hambletonian. "She got parked out and tilted around. But I didn't think I had much to worry about today, and she was back on Lasix."

The winner is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Jason Melillo, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. This was Sister Sledge's 12th victory from 19 career attempts, she has now banked $682,653, and she paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

In the other section Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick) blasted to the engine from post two, but she would release a parked Fifty Cent Piece (Mike Wilder) to the front after the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Next Level Stuff then re-moved to the point before the 56 4/5 half and looked strong to the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters and around the final bend. However, she began to come back to her pursuers in the lane, and taking advantage was Crucial (David Miller), as she rallied two-wide after a three-hole trip and got up in time to win by a nose in 1:53 1/5. Fifty Cent Piece came up the passing lane and was third.

"The leader kind of opened up on me, and I thought we could be second," Miller said. "But she kept on coming and put her nose in front. I like horses like that."

Burke Racing Stable LLC., W.J. Donovan, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. own Crucial, who was fourth in the Hambletonian Oaks final a week ago. Crucial is now a six-time winner from 17 efforts, and she has earned $271,577. She was the 9-2 third choice and returned $11.80 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--