Woodbine Mohawk Park: Burke takes two shots at Shalom Hanover in Metro elims

Trainer Ron Burke enters more horses in races in North America than any other trainer. He annually wins many more races than other trainers. If there's a method to Burke's success, it is that he doesn't accept defeat as permanent, and no matter what the odds he expects his horses to prevail.

Going into Saturday's two Metro Pace eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Burke has entered a pair of horses among a dozen, while all eyes for a second year are on an undefeated Dr. Ian Moore-trained freshman. Shalom Hanover has looked like a dominant force in the division since his debut on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit and ultimate victory in the rich final at Pocono on September 7. Undaunted, Burke will have two chances to reach the final, with Rose Run Cowboy entered against Shalom Hanover in the first $40,000 division (race two) and Eastie Boy facing five others in the second division carded as race seven.

"I don't think there's that big a distance between the top ones and mine," said Burke with confidence when asked about Eastie Boy, a third-place finisher to Shalom Hanover in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final. "If those two (Shalom Hanover and Starstruck Dreamer) had mixed it up a little instead of racing single-file, the results could have been different."

Eastie Boy was first to the lead in the Sire Stakes final but ended up sitting third on the pylons and was finishing very fast, though not a threat to the top pair.

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From a pedigree standpoint Eastie Boy was an interesting horse for Burke from the start. A full brother to Louprint, Burke quickly put aside comparisons.

"I knew from the first time I sat behind Louprint he was a different kind of horse," said Burke. "This colt has been coming along slowly, but I expect a big second half of the season from him."

Eastie Boy is the third foal from the Rockin Image-sired Rockin Racer. In addition to Louprint she's also the dam of Shacarri, a winner this year in a division of the Adioo Volo at The Meadows where she upset Miss Jum Jabber. When asked to compare the trio he has trained throughout their careers, Burke said, "If there's one thing they all have in common it's toughness."

In Eastie Boy, Burke suggested a horse that he envisioned early in the season as one that looked like he'd have trouble staying sound. In contrast, with seven starts racing at the highest level in Pennsylvania, he's won in 1:50 2/5 and been timed in 1:49 3/5 over the five-eighths-mile track.

Eastie Boy drew post five and will likely be the favorite, with Dr. Ian Moore sending out the probable second choice in Nassagaweya winner Mascarpone (post two).

Rose Run Cowboy drew post three in his division, inside of Shalom Hanover (post five), and Burke believes the son of Huntsville has a bright future.

"He's got to learn more to be a good racehorse," Burke said. "In the Sire Stakes final (September 12) he lost his focus on the lead and came to a complete stop for a few strides."

That incident opened the door for rivals and inevitably cost Rose Run Cowboy, who dropped the $300,000 final to Bastonata Bluechip by a scant nose.

"I think the big track will help him out a lot," said Burke of Rose Run Cowboy. "He'll be able to chase the speed, and he'll have no problem doing that."

Just how close Rose Run Cowboy will come to Shalom Hanover remains to be seen. The son of Papi Rob Hanover is now perfect in his first six starts following an impressive 1:49 2/5 victory, edging the previously-unbeaten Starstruck Dreamer in the $300,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final. Louis-Philippe Roy had the first shot to drive Beau Jangles regularly as a freshman and opted off. This year he's made a habit of sitting behind Shalom Hanover in all his starts, as he will again on Saturday night.

Only one horse from each elimination will not qualify for the rich final on September 26.

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Trainer George Ducharme will send out Sharp Seven, one of two $300,000 New York Sire Stakes winners from his stable on September 12 at Yonkers, in one of two $35,000 Elegantimage eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night. Ducharme's 2-year-old pacing filly Huntsvilles Honey captured her New York title before Sharp Seven and Jason Bartlett scored in her division.

"I expected Sharp Seven to race well and win," said Ducharme. "I wasn't expecting my pacing filly to win."

Huntsvilles Honey, according to Ducharme, had been stymied during legs of the Sire Stakes in New York when racing from behind. "It's been tough to race her from off-the-pace when there isn't much action. On Saturday there was plenty of pace, and she finished it off."

As for Sharp Seven, Ducharme is hoping to give his filly a chance.

"She's got a few more Grand Circuit races on her schedule. She's definitely much better on the smaller track but after winning last Saturday I thought she earned a chance," said Ducharme.

Sharp Seven is the richest of the nine fillies in her division, carded as race seven, but will need to overcome post seven with Jody Jamieson picking up the drive.

Hambletonian Oaks elimination winner Busy Miss Lissy S (post six) is the morning line favorite, and she's coming off a superior effort - recovering from a break in stride in the $125,000 Delmonica Hanover first consolation and winning in a 1:52 4/5 clocking on August 22 - but hasn't raced in nearly four weeks.

Leading Lady was made the 8-5 favorite in the first Elegantimage elimination carded as race three with Jason Bartlett driving the Walner-sired filly for trainer Nancy Takter. Leading Lady has finished second in seven of her 12 starts this year with but one victory.

Last year's Breeders Crown champion Storybook Love returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park following a second-place finish in the New York Sire Stakes final behind Sharp Seven for trainer Matt Bax. The Chapter Seven-sired filly was a winner in the Simcoe over this surface on September 4 and returns from post four.

The top five from each elimination will return for the Elegantimage final on September 26.