Trainers Burke, Takter double in Sunday PA All-Stars at Pocono

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Trainers Ron Burke and Nancy Takter each accounted for two $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for two-year-old pacing colts during a Sunday (July 12) twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with Burke sending out the fastest two winners and Takter harnessing victorious sons of Always B Miki.

Fulsome (Betting Line-Triple V Hanover), was much better in his second purse start to break his maiden and win the fastest of the five All-Stars sections. Moved to the lead in the second quarter by driver Yannick Gingras, the pair came their last split in :27.3 to post a 1:52.2 victory, two lengths clear of Capt Jack Hanover (Andrew McCarthy). William Donovan, Thomas Dillon, Purnel & Libby, and Joe Sbrocco co-own the Burke trainee.

The Brigade sent out the 1-2 finishers in the first All-Stars race, Lou’s Pearlman (Sweet Lou – Lucy’s Pearl) followed the cover of fellow 6-5 shot and stablemate Summa Cum Laude (Matt Kakaley) late on the backstretch, to defeat his barn mate by a half-length in a career-best 1:52.4. A winner in the first prelim of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes as well, Lou’s Pearlman was driven by Joe Bongiorno in his All-Stars triumph for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak, and Howard Taylor.

The Takter-trained Always A Miki (Always B Miki-Beach Gal) squared off against fellow PA Sires winner Bayfield Beach (David Miller) in his division, but after Always A Miki (Dexter Dunn) got away with a :57.4 half, there was no catching him in the :55.3 – :27.2 back fractions, completing this mile in 1:53.2 after winning his Sires event a full second faster. Always A Miki defeated Bayfield Beach by 1-3/4 lengths; mention should also be mentioned of 59-1 shot Whole Lotta Lou (Stacy Chiodo), who came uncovered from seventh and held for third. The winning owners were Christina Takter, Goran Anderberg, Herb Liverman, and the Rojan Stables.

The Monterey Jack (Always B Miki – Katie Said) made his purse debut a winning one for Nancy Takter, getting a 58.3 half after forcing a lineup from the rail, then jetting home in :55.3 – :27.2 for a new mark of 1:54.1, 3-3/4 lengths ahead of Batterup Hanover (Dunn). Yannick Gingras, getting a Sire Stakes victory for both doubling trainers, drove “Jack” to the easy win for Black Horse Racing, Caviart Farms, and John Fielding.

In the other All-Stars event, Chase H Hanover (Captaintreacherous – Calgary Hanover) also used the rail to force an early lineup, then sprinted home in :55.1 – :27.1 to take a mark of 1:53.2, 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Straight Talk. Scott Cox conditions the David Miller-driven winner for himself and co-owner Jason Ash.

The two-year-olds have come to establish their form quickly in Pennsylvania – all five winners were sent off as the post time betting favorite.

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