Yonkers: Burke sends half-dozen for weekend stakes action

The sport’s leading trainer Ron Burke has a half-dozen veteran performers slated for stakes action this weekend at Yonkers Raceway with three entered on Friday night in $40,000 divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker led by last week’s surprise winner Feelin Red Hot.

“On a half-mile track she can leave the gate as fast as any horse in the country,” said Burke of Feelin Red Hot, a 6-year-old by Feelin Friskie that upset some heavy hitters in round two action, including Shartin N and Seaswift Joy N.

“I didn’t think going in that she could beat Shartin N,” said Burke, “But I knew we were going to be on the lead and the others were running into each other all the way.”

Burke didn’t know exactly where his mare would fit in this year’s series, but along with Camera Lady, elected to enter and has thus far been satisfied with the results.

As for Friday, the luck of the draw has set all of the three Burke mares on the outside, with Feelin Red Hot scoring from post five in the first Blue Chip Matchmaker division carded as race four.

“Apple Bottom Jeans (post 1) is one of the horses to beat in this series,” said Burke. “I’m sure we’ll be close to her but I’m not sure we can beat her.”

Apple Bottom Jeans has captured both legs of the series to date, each by extended lengths.

Burke was disappointed in the first series start for Camera Lady but was more encouraged after last week’s outing. “She was no good at all the first trip. Her blood was a little off. She was really good last week and came the fastest last quarter (27 2/5),” said Burke. “She needs to draw inside.”

Camera Lady landed post six on the outside in the third Blue Chip division race seven on the card.

Burke was perhaps the most optimistic about Magic Forces. Despite just one victory in 10 starts this year, Burke feels the 5-year-old is coming around. “When she’s on her game she can pace in 1:51 over this track,” Burke said, noting her record as a 4-year-old here last year.

That said, Shartin N landed post three in this division, the last of the quartet and race eight on the program.

Burke has three entered in $50,000 George Morton Levy series divisions as round three kicks off on Saturday night.

Always At My Place (post 3) gives the trainer a legitimate chance. “I was disappointed in him the first week. He raced well last week but it’s pretty tough to advance when they go 30-second second quarters here and you’re coming from off the pace,” Burke said, lamenting. “It’s funny, Northfield’s a half-mile track and they’re on the move early on the second turn there. Here they wait to start moving into the third turn. I guess the drivers know what works.”

Always At My Place faces the impressive second leg winner JJ Flynn (post 1) in this division.

I’m Some Graduate (post 4) is pretty much the same story for Burke in that he’s been compromised by the draw and trips. The trainer didn’t sound optimistic things would improve in this division. “I don’t think they’re going to get around the horse inside (Anythingforlove A) and that could mean a slow pace,” Burke said.

Burke believes that Windsong Leo could be his best performer in the Levy but admits after missing the second leg and suffering a break in stride in the opening leg, he’s up against it. “It’s tough to play catch-up in this series. I don’t know what happened to him the first week. George (Brennan) was having a tough time steering him and eventually he lost him,” said Burke. “I think he can go with any of them in this group.”

Windsong Leo drew post five and meets two-leg winner Ideal Jimmy (post 7) among seven others in the last of the five $50,000 Levy divisions, race 11 on the card.

Burke will have one eye on Yonkers and the other on Meadowlands on Saturday with the 4-year-old debut of Wheels On Fire at the East Rutherford plant. “He was really good qualifying. That was like a (1):48 mile,” said Burke of the actual 1:51 1/5 effort last Saturday at The Big M. “He’s a very big horse and he needs the big track. He’s the type of horse that I think will improve with age,” said Burke. Wheels On Fire won 11 of his 17 starts as a 3-year-old.