Saratoga Harness: This Is The Plan tops Burke trifecta in Gerrity

This Is The Plan picked up his fourth significant stakes victory of 2021 and led a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Ron Burke in Saturday night's $150,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial for open pacers at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The complexion of the Gerrity changed before the start when Commodore Barry champion Nicholas Beach was scratched, leaving a field of seven to contest the event. It would be Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick) from post three and This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) from the outside post seven away quickest in the group, and This Is The Plan got to the point just before the 26 2/5 opening quarter went on the board.

Backstreet Shadow wanted no part of the pocket, though, and he would vault past his stablemate to regain command prior to the 55 2/5 half. Leonidas A (Austin Siegelman) attempted a first-over bid out of third past that marker, but he wasn't able to make any headway after pulling, leaving Backstreet Shadow on a clear lead at the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters.

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On the last turn Gingras brought This Is The Plan off the pylons, and after a battle with Backstreet Shadow into the lane, This Is The Plan was able to forge his way by. He was not out of the woods, though, as Rockapelo (Matt Kakaley), who had gotten away fifth, saved ground on the inside, and then angled out three-wide turning for home, was finishing with plenty of pace. The wire came up in time for This Is The Plan, however, as he kept his nose in front of Rockapelo in a 1:50 2/5 mile. Backstreet Shadow held third over a fast-closing Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan), and Western Joe (Scott Zeron) was fifth.

Already the winner of the 2021 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final, the Battle of Lake Erie, and a Roll With Joe division prior to tonight's triumph, This Is The Plan is a 6-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Larry Karr. This Is The Plan has a record of 19-24-8 from 82 lifetime tries, and he has now earned $2,367,545. He paid $4.90 to win.