by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Although Mission Brief is the Ron Burke trainee that has grabbed all the headlines, her stablemate Habitat also deserves his fair share of ink. Although both horses failed to capture their engagements last weekend, they will attempt to return to the winner’s circle, a place each is very familiar with, on Sunday (July 26) when they compete in their respective divisions of the Zweig Memorial Trot at Vernon Downs.

The duo also provides Burke with two chances to capture the $1 million Hambletonian on Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands.

“I know she was beaten last week,” Burke said. “But I really like how she came out of the race and I think we are ironing out her back issues at the right time. We’ve definitely been doing a lot of work on it.

“Habitat is just always so consistent. I think they will both do well this weekend and I enjoy racing at Vernon because it is such a nice track.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Mission Brief has won 11 times in her career, with $698,917 in purse earnings.

Mission Brief, a daughter of Muscle Hill and the Varenne mare Southwind Serena, will take on eight rivals in her $185,000 contest. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, J&T Silva Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, she will have regular pilot Yannick Gingras in the bike and will commence her journey to the wire from post position five in the sixth race on the card.

Habitat, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables and Weaver Bruscemi, will be steered by Brian Sears and will begin trotting from the eighth post position in race nine. The son of Conway Hall and the Muscles Yankee mare Habit’s Best will vie with eight other rivals, which include Pinkman, Uncle Lasse, Canepa Hanover and Whom Shall I Fear, for $370,000 in purse money.

“I’m not concerned about Habitat’s post position,” Burke said. “I have the best driver in the world on him to put him in a good spot off the gate and at Vernon I don’t think post position really matters because of the size of the track. He did throw in that break in his Beal elimination, but that is uncharacteristic of him. He rebounded right back from it by winning the Beal consolation and then was second by a neck in the Dancer. He’s definitely ready to go.

“I thought Mission Brief raced super last week. I know how I feel when my back bothers me so I can only imagine what it is like for her. She fought back on the inside but I don’t think she ever saw that other filly (Spirit To Win) coming on the outside. You also have to give it that other filly, Mission Brief trotted her last quarter in :26.3 and the winner trotted in :26 flat.”

To date, Mission Brief, the sport’s swiftest ever 2-year-old trotter, has amassed just under $700,000 lifetime with a record of 16-11-1-0 and her world record mark of 1:50.3. This year she has raced three times with two triumphs and one second place finish.

Her loss last week is the first time she has not won while staying on stride.

Burke targeted the Hambletonian as a goal for his filly back in the spring, but with her back issues she may enter the Hambletonian Oaks instead.

“I’m not as worried about winning the Hambletonian with her because I do have Habitat,” Burke said. “But I sure would like to have her in there. I will make the final decision on whether she goes in the Hambletonian or the Hambletonian Oaks after Sunday’s race.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Habitat enters the Zweig Memorial with $787,117 in career earnings.

Habitat has collected just short of $800,000 in his racing career. He was last year’s O’Brien Award winner for his age, sex and gait and his record stands at 21-11-4-2. In 2015, his resume stands at 8-4-2-0, he’s earned $252,710 and set his lifetime mark of 1:53f just two starts back at Pocono in the Beal consolation. On the two occasions he has failed to hit the board, he broke stride at the gate, but with all things considered, this is a horse you can never count out.

“If there is one word to describe Habitat it is class,” Burke said. “That’s what he is — a classy horse. He goes out there every time and puts in a great effort. I always say he’s the quietest $800,000 winner you will ever see and he definitely flies under the radar for what he has accomplished. He is also very good gaited and easy to drive.”

Although this weekend’s Zweig races are the immediate matter at hand, Burke certainly is looking ahead to the second weekend in August and the Hambletonian hardware.

“I’m sure I will have other chances to win it as I am starting to get trotters that are nicely bred,” Burke said. “But I would really like to win this one with these horses. Mission Brief has the heart of a champion and when she is right any horse that goes eyeball to eyeball with her will not win. She just has that kind of talent and competitiveness.

“I think Habitat has an excellent shot in the Hambletonian too. He’s in great form and with the right trip he will be right there at the wire.

“All I do know is you can’t win it if you are not in the gate and it is a race I really want to win. I’m fortunate I have these two horses that are capable of doing it.”

Below are the fields for the Zweig Memorial and Zweig Filly, in post position order, with drivers, trainers and morning line odds:

$370,000 Zweig Memorial
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Workout Wonder-Daniel Dube-Ake Svanstedt-6-1
2-Boots N Chains-Jason Bartlett-John Butenschoen-8-1
3-Royal Deceptor-Michael McGivern-Cheryl McGivern-10-1
4-Uncle Lasse-Brett Miller-Jimmy Takter-9-5*
5-Canepa Hanover-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter-9-5*
6-Wings Of Royalty-Tim Tetrick-George Ducharme-5-1
7-Pinkman-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter-9-5*
8-Habitat-Brian Sears-Ron Burke-2-1
9-Whom Shall I Fear-John Campbell-Jimmy Takter-9-5*

*These four will race as a coupled entry

$185,000 Zweig Filly
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Lock Down Lindy-Tim Tetrick-Tony Alagna-5-1
2-Concentration-Chris Lems-George Ducharme-10-1
3-She Glides-Jason Bartlett-Jennifer Sabot-6-1
4-Gatka Hanover-Brett Miller-Ron Burke-9-5*
5-Mission Brief-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-9-5*
6-Sweet Thing-Greg Merton-Homer Hochstetler-8-1
7-Wild Honey-John Campbell-Jimmy Takter-2-1**
8-Magic Marker-Brian Sears-R. Nifty Norman-2-1**
9-I’m So Fancy-Daniel Dube-Ron Burke-9-5*

*These three will race as a coupled entry; **These two will race as a coupled entry