Northfield Park: Chris Page, Ron Burke break out the brooms in Ohio Sires Stakes Championship

Driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke teamed up to win all four $60,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships for older horses that were held on Saturday night at Northfield Park. The program also saw eight $40,000 Buckeye Stallion Series finals conducted, with Yankee Boots tying the world record of 1:51 3/5 for a rookie pacing gelding on a half-mile track during those races.

The headliner of the Page/Burke grand slam was Lady's Dude, who tied the North American record for an aged gelding trotter by winning that event in 1:53 2/5. The 7-year-old Victory Sam gelding, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Johnny Yoder scored his 45th career win.

In the mare pace it was Rosemary Rose getting the job done, just missing the world record for a 4-year-old pacing mare on a half-mile track by a fifth of a second after stopping the clock in 1:50 4/5. Rosemary Rose, a daughter of Foreclosure N, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Jason Melillo, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. This was lifetime win number 19 for her.

The venerable Dancin Yankee made his 69th appearance in the winner's circle after a 1:49 3/5 performance in the stallion and gelding pace. A 10-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser and millionaire, Dancin Yankee is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC.

After a delay due to a heavy thunderstorm, Party At The Banks completed the sweep for Page and Burke, winning the mare trot from first-up in 1:55 3/5. A 4-year-old mare by Break The Bank K, Party At The Banks is now a nine-time winner. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

As for the Buckeye Stallion Series finals, Yankee Boots stole the show by matching Rock Candy's world record for a 2-year-old gelding pacer on a half-mile track when he captured that event in 1:51 3/5. Aaron Merriman was in the bike for breeder/co-owner/trainer Steve Carter and co-owners/breeders Peggy Carter, Chuck Grubbs, and Joseph Whitacre. Merriman and Carter also won the 3-year-old filly pace with Carter-owned Velocity McSweets (by McArdle) in 1:52 3/5.

Dan Noble also had a double in the Buckeye Stallion Series finals, steering Infrontandforgetit (by Dontyouforgetit) to a 1:56 3/5 tally in the 3-year-old filly trot and Showboat (by Dejarmbro) to a 1:55 score in the 3-year-old male trot. Infrontandforgetit is trained by Jim Arledge Jr. for owners Greg Buckey, William Buckey, Mary McLoughlin, and Spring Mill Venture, while Virgil Morgan Jr. handles the training of Showboat for owner Joyce McClelland.

The other Buckeye Stallion Series champions were:

--Two-year-old filly trotter Ilianora (by Broadway Hall) in 1:59 3/5 for driver Cameron McCown, trainer Jason Hanna, and owner Mr. Kim Haver

--Two-year-old filly pacer Atlantic Star (by Cheyenne Rei) in 1:55 for driver Ed Hennessey, trainer Sandra Hennessey, and owners Michael Hale and Don Locricchio

--Two-year-old gelding trotter Buckeyeonbroadway (by Dejarmbro) in 1:58 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Jeff Edwards, and owners/breeders Denise Dennis and Dolne Farm Services LLC.

--Three-year-old gelding pacer Rock On Creek (by Pet Rock) in 1:51 1/5 for driver Chris Lems, trainer Calvin Hollar, co-owner/breeder Debbie Bird, and co-owners Richard Lombardo and Carl Atley