by Anne Doolin, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — Mickey Burke, the leading trainer in North America by wins and earnings, wasn’t in attendance at Scioto Downs on Saturday night (September 9), but his horses certainly were. With son Mickey Jr. in charge, the Burke Stable took two of the three $70,000 Jug Preview divisions. Driver Dave Palone and owner George Leon also shared in the double victory.

The Jug Preview shared the stage with eight $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship Finals on the Ohio Super Night card, the richest night of racing in all of Ohio.

Dave Palone piloted Sandro Hanover to a 1:51 score in their Jug Preview division.

In the first division, the petite Sandro Hanover and Dave Palone went wire-to-wire to win by two in 1:51 — tying the 3-year-old colt track record shared by Art’s Tribute and Santastic’s Pan. The son of Western Hanover, owned by George Leon of Pennsylvania and Dean Davis of Wooster, Ohio, notched his fifth win in 17 starts this season. Western Guy was second and Gran Sasso third.

“He’s just a little guy, but his attitude more than makes up for it,” said Palone. “True North Hanover gets all the ink from this stable, but anytime one steps up to the plate and answers the bell like this one does, you really get fond of them.”

“He’s a peanut,” said Mickey Burke, Jr. “We are planning to go on to the Jug with him. We’re really pleased. This was the break-out race we were looking for.”

The Burke Stable also won the third division with True North Hanover, who likewise took command early and rolled to a five length victory. He stopped the timer in the identical time as his stablemate — 1:51.

True North Hanover was also a 1:51 winner on Saturday.

It was the 10th victory in 17 starts this season for the son of The Panderosa, who is owned by George Leon of Pittsburgh. True North also captured the $100,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stake Final and the Cleveland Classic at Northfield in recent weeks.

Millionaire Western Ace added to his bankroll with a wire-to-wire score in the middle division, with Randy Tharps driving for trainer George Teague, Jr. and owners Teague Inc. and Kovach Stables LLC of Delaware. It was the first Jug Preview win for Scioto regular Tharps, who is currently second in the driver’s standings.

Western Ace, a son of Western Ideal, was a monster at two, banking $709,743. He’s now had two wins and three seconds in his last five outs. His Preview clocking of 1:50.2 was just two ticks off the all-age track record, set by Gallo Blue Chip in the 2000 Jug Preview.

Scioto Downs/Conrad Photos

Western Ace was the fastest winner, scoring in 1:50.2.

“He’s been good all year, but he just doesn’t land in a good spot,” said Teague. “He’s parked, boxed in, parked, boxed in — we finally landed in a happy medium in trips. And he definitely liked the surface here.

“He’s a horse that likes what he’s doing,” he said. “He’s one of the few I’ve seen that can’t wait to get to the racetrack.”

Teague said both Western Ace and Total Truth, who won the Cane Pace Final on Monday, are heading to the Little Brown Jug.

“I’m looking forward to Delaware,” he said. “I’ve never raced a horse there.”