Hightstown, NJ – Matthew Burkholder, in the midst of his first million-dollar season, picked up his first Grand Circuit victory last week and will look to maintain the momentum on Friday when he sends out two morning-line favorites in divisions of the Grade 3 International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile.
Requiem, coming off a 1:52.3 win in a division of last week’s Grade 3 Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile, will get the action started for the 28-year-old trainer in Friday’s first race, the first of four divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters. He is the 6-5 morning-line choice in the $72,000 event, leaving from post six in a field of seven.
In the third division, going for a purse of $73,000, Burkholder trainee Silverstein is the 9-5 morning-line chalk. He is coming off a third-place finish in the Mohawk Million and will start Friday from post four.
David Miller will drive both trotters for Burkholder.
“It’s definitely been a great year for us,” said Burkholder, an Ohio native and resident who has seen his stable bank $1.02 million this year, smashing his previous high of $664,539 set just last season. “I try not to have many expectations; you just focus on doing your work, having the horses the best they can be, and the rest will take care of itself.
“We’ve gradually built the stable, and every year we try to get a little better. It’s nice when you advance every year. That’s the most important thing, I think. With success, you gain confidence, and I don’t think confidence is a bad thing. Hopefully, we can build off this.”
Requiem and Silverstein, two of the 30 horses in Burkholder’s stable, are both owned by David McElrath’s Dark Horse Farm. Silverstein was purchased for $80,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale while Requiem was a $45,000 buy at the same auction. The two trotters have combined to earn nearly $367,000 this season.
“It’s not just me; I have to thank the owners for buying me good horses,” Burkholder said. “I really appreciate it, and the work of all the people around me.”
Prior to having his own stable, Burkholder spent six years working with Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame trainer Marty Wollam.
“He’s a great guy, and was a great guy to learn from,” Burkholder said. “He taught me so much about conditioning.”
Requiem, a son of Muscle Hill-Ostrich Blue Chip whose family includes past New York circuit standout Quincy Blue Chip, has hit the board in seven of eight races, winning three and earning $102,500. His 1:52.3 Bluegrass triumph was a career best and the fourth consecutive start in which he lowered his time.
He began his season by racing in the Kentucky Sire Stakes at Oak Grove, posting two third-place finishes, then moved to the KYSS Commonwealth Series at The Red Mile. He finished third in the $100,000 Commonwealth final on Sept. 15 and 10 days later won his $82,000 Bluegrass division.
“He trained down really good; I was pretty high on him all winter long,” Burkholder said. “Then at Oak Grove, he raced good, but he didn’t race great. So, we started him in the Commonwealth (series), and he’s improved every start. Last week, he was very good. David deserves credit for that too. He’s developed him and brought him along and hasn’t forced him to do anything.
“He’s a very nice horse. He’s even keeled. He’s not aggressive, he just does what you ask him to do. Hopefully, he can continue forward.”
Silverstein, a son of Chapter Seven-Shining Brightly out of the family of two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Passionate Glide, has hit the board in eight of nine races, with one victory and five second-place finishes. He has earned $263,840.
His win came in a preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series and was followed by three consecutive seconds, with two of them behind eventual Championship Series final winner (and Mohawk Million runner-up) Endurance.
Silverstein, who was second to Endurance in the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Oak Grove in mid-July, finished third in the Championship Series final on Sept. 14. In the Mohawk Million on Sept. 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Silverstein was timed in 1:52.1 as he finished behind Apex and Endurance.
“It was a big thrill (to be in the Mohawk Million), especially at the top of the stretch when it looked like he had a chance,” Burkholder said. “That was great. He raced super.
“But what a surprise he is. He didn’t train down very good, made a lot of breaks. It seems like when he got behind the starting gate, he just started to figure it out, he started getting it. He’s super consistent. He’s trotted (1):53 or better every week since his second start at Oak Grove. He’s not a very big horse, but he’s got a big heart. I’m very happy with him.”
Neither Silverstein nor Requiem is Breeders Crown eligible, but the two trotters could continue their campaigns at Kentucky’s Cumberland Run following the end of the meet at The Red Mile.
“We’ll see how they are, but as long as they’re doing good, we’ll probably go,” Burkholder said. “If they’re healthy, I don’t see why not.”
Racing begins at 1 p.m. on Friday at The Red Mile. In addition to the International Stallion Stakes divisions for the trotters, there are three splits for 2-year-old female pacers. For free programs, visit the Red Mile website and scroll down.