By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The prolific
pair of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke were up to their old
tricks Saturday night at the Meadowlands, combining to win four times on the
12-race program.
Windsong Jack got the dynamic duo off
to a good start in the second race pace, the $17,500 Dash For The “G” Notes
final, as the 8-year-old gelded son of Santanna Blue Chip-Milliondollarsmile,
who won his preliminary a week ago by 8¾ lengths in 1:51.1, was up for what was
almost a repeat performance.
The result was never in doubt as the
1-9 public choice cut out all of the fractions before hitting the wire 6½
lengths in front of Joe’s Bid in a season’s-best equaling 1:51.1. He paid $2.20
to win.
But Gingras and Burke were just
getting started.
Rockn Motion, a regular earlier this
season on the Kentucky Sire Stakes circuit, beat a solid field of conditioned
pacers in race five. The son of Pet Rock-Graceful Motion, who was unraced at 2,
was the only 3-year-old in the field, but held sway through the stretch despite
getting steppy with an eighth of a mile to go to hold off even-money choice
Ocean Colony by a head.
As the 8-5 second choice, Rockn
Motion paid $5.20 after completing the mile in 1:52.1.
The Burke-Gingras pairing struck
again in the seventh, scoring with another 3-year-old – Dragon Time – who was
good enough to beat older foes in a high-range conditioned pace in 1:51.3.
The gelded son of Bettor’s
Delight-Little Miss Dragon slipped out of the three hole at three-quarters
before angling through the stretch with steady pace to gun down the pacesetting
– and eventual third-place finisher – Geez Joe. Dragon Time hit the wire
three-quarters of a length in front of Burkentine Hanover and paid $14.00 as
the third choice in the wagering. Veteran Bettor’s Edge was sent to the gate as
the 3-5 choice, but after working out a perfect pocket trip came up empty at
crunch time.
Burke and Gingras completed their
four-bagger with Magnum Mike, a 10-year-old son of Magical Mike-Dare To Dream,
in the 10th race claiming handicap pace.
Racing out of the Burke barn for the
first time, Magnum Mike was sent to the gate as the 2-1 favorite and delivered
on that promise after following perfect cover while second over. He paid $6.40
after pacing his mile in 1:52.2, a lifetime best. It 3½ lengths back to
second-place finisher Glass Prince.
A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy won the third race to
up his meet-leading driver win total to 14. … Kyle Husted got his first
training and driving winner of the meet, steering 3-2 favorite Terror Of The
Nite to victory lane in the sixth. … All-source wagering totaled $2,077,898. …
Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
