Anderson, IN – Ron Burke trainees Starlitfranknstein and On To Norway won with authority in a pair of $50,000 Indiana Sire Stakes splits for the sixth leg for sophomore trotting colts, with On To Norway extending his win streak to 13 in the process on Thursday (Aug. 21) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
On To Norway was established as the 1-9 favorite in the second split, leaving from post six with regular pilot John DeLong aboard. On To Norway floated off the wings midpack in the field of eight before sliding against the cones in fourth while second-choice Operator (Kyle Wilfong) raced outside of Bellsforall (Kevin Lambright) with a narrow lead at the quarter in :27.2. The trotters turned into the headwind on the backstretch, with Operator slowing things down to the half in :56.4. DeLong right-lined On To Norway from fourth moving into the final turn, powering alongside Operator at three-quarters in 1:26.3.
The tempo quickened, but the highly anticipated battle was short lived as On To Norway quickly surged to the lead and began to open up on the field midway through the stretch. Trotting home in :27, On To Norway crossed the line 2-1/4 lengths clear of Operator to stop the clock in 1:53.3, with Mehelpingyou (Jordan Ross) nosing out Massive Desire (Trace Tetrick) for show.
The only time On To Norway has tasted defeat in 2025 was a second-place effort in his seasonal debut, with the last 12 victories coming for the ownership team of Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. The gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act has banked $238,806 lifetime and won 17 of 23 career starts.
Before his stablemate extended his win streak, Starlitfranknstein uncorked a career-best mile in an absolute romp with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the first split. Tetrick wasted little time getting Starlitfranknstein to the lead, racing to the outside of Tarzan (Marcus Miller) through a quarter of :27 before clearing to the lead. Tetrick grabbed a :29.3 breather up the backstretch, getting to the hallway point in :56.3 before allowing Starlitfranknstein to trot on two lengths clear of the field at three-quarters in 1:25.
The lead only swelled from there as Starlitfranknstein poured it on in the stretch, opening up by 5-1/2 lengths on the wire in 1:52.2. Revin For Dallars (Marvin Luna) took flight in the lane to be second, however jumped it off just before crossing the wire and was placed sixth. Dry Creek Kodiak (Jordan Ross) inherited the place position, with RJ Don’t Peachim (LeWayne Miller) placed third.
Starlitfranknstein has yet to be worse than second through 10 outings this year, winning four of them for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty LLC, and Frank Baldachino. The son of Swan For All-A Southern Lily has banked $118,500 on the year and surpassed $300,000 in career earnings following the lifetime-best performance.
Racing continues on Friday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with a 14-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. Indiana Sire Stakes action continues with a pair of $67,000 splits for 2-year-old trotting fillies, and two $50,000 divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts highlighted by Rock Shines Again looking to remain undefeated in his ninth outing of the year in race eight.
Free online programs for the Friday card are available on the Hoosier Park website in addition to free access to race replays, while qualifier replays can be found at the Hoosier Park AV YouTube Channel.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.