By
Dave Little, for the Meadowlands
EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. – For Ron Burke, nights like these are special. And they tend
to happen all the time.
This
year will mark his ninth consecutive national training title, and on the last
big stakes night of racing at the Meadowlands in 2017, Burke took two of the
four TVG Finals and added another winner in a Fall Final 4 event
(Youaremycandygirl in the Three Diamonds) on Saturday night.
Burke
got the ball rolling with Hannelore Hanover ($2.40 to win) in the TVG Mares
Trot. The 5-year-old daughter of Swan For All went a pocket trip behind
Emoticon Hanover and rolled right by that foe to record a 2-length win in
1:52.3, raising the possibility of winning a Horse of the Year trophy at
season’s end. Emoticon Hanover completed the $3.20 exacta. Caprice Hill was
third.
Winning
driver Yannick Gingras, who also drives HOTY contenders Ariana G and Manchego,
wasn’t saying who he thought should take home the hardware. “I can’t answer
that question,” said Gingras.
“All three of them are really special. I just
wanted to do my job. Now it’s time for the voters to do their job.”
What
The Hill ($12.80) locked up 3-year-old divisional honors by beating older foes
in the TVG Open Trot. David Miller put the son of Muscle Hill in a perfect
spot, right behind 4-5 favorite Crazy Wow, and when that one weakened in the
stretch, went the inside route to the winner’s circle. It was
three-quarters-of-a-length back to Dayson. Pinkman was third. The time for the
mile was 1:51.4, which equaled his lifetime best.
“That
was my plan (to sit behind Crazy Wow),” said Miller. “He was very strong
through the stretch. I’m very proud of him, stepping up to face older and do
this.”
“When
he sits in the two hole,” said Burke. “He is good as any horse I have and he
was concentrated on the horse’s head in front of him.”
Pure
Country sat off blinding fractions set by Darlinonthebeach of :27, :54.1 and
1:21 and flew home after vacating the three hole on the far turn to take the
TVG Mares Pace by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:49. The 4-year-daughter of
Somebeachsomewhere, who was driven by Mark MacDonald and trained Jimmy Takter,
paid $9.00 to win. Bedroomconfessions was second with Darlinonthebeach holding
on for third.
“She’s
really game,” said MacDonald. “She digs and fights horses all the way to the
wire. I know halfway down the stretch she’s going to give me that extra gear.”
Miller
was seen in the winner’s circle again in the TVG Open Pace, guiding Mach It So
($5.60) to victory by a half-length over a fast-closing McWicked in 1:49.2. All
Bets Off finished third.
The
7-year-old gelded son of Mach Three lifted his lifetime earnings to just over
$2.4 million for trainer Jeff Bamond.
“He
makes you look good,” said Bamond of his prized pupil. “Once he got to the
front (just after the quarter), he looked strong. He’s done for the year but
you’ll see him next year. He earned a little vacation.”
A
LITTLE MORE: All source wagering on the 13-race card totaled $2,482,425. …
Racing resumes at the Meadowlands Friday at 7:15 p.m. Thereafter, the track
will race Thursday through Saturday for the month of December.
