by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Northfield, OH — Trainer Ron Burke and driver Chris Page teamed up to sweep all four $60,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Veteran championships for 4-year-old and up trotters and pacers of both genders on Saturday night (Oct. 6) at Northfield Park.

JJ Zamaiko photography

Dancin Yankee wins his fourth Ohio Sire Stakes final.

Rosemary Rose prevailed in 1:50.4 in the $60,000 OSS contest for pacing mares after a perfect two-hole trip. The 4-year-old daughter by Foreclosure N left the gate as the 9-5 favorite, sitting in the garden spot until mid-stretch, when she unleashed a :27.4 kick to notch career victory 19. Owned by Burke Racing, Jason Melilo and Weaver Bruscemi, Rosemary Rose finished 3=1/2 lengths in front of 8-5 Pistol Packin Mam (Aaron Merriman), with 9-5 Feelin Red Hot (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) fading to third. The triumph upped Rosemary Rose’s career earnings to $370,262.

Page next steered 3-1 Lady’s Pride to a 1:53.2 clocking in the $60,000 Trot, equaling the Northfield Park track record and finishing half a length in front of 4-5 I Know My Chip (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.). Another Break did well to finishing third at 18-1 for Danny Noble. The 7-year-old Victory Sam gelding is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Johnny Yoder, with 45 wins from 119 starts and earnings of $793,848 lifetime.

In line to become the next Foiled Again, the seemingly indefatigable Dancin Yankee captured the $60,000 pacing championship for the fourth time. Timed in 1:49.3, the 10-year-old Yankee Cruiser stallion grabbed the lead at the 1:21.3 three-quarters and never looked back, drawing off by 3¼ lengths at 1-5 in front of 20-1 Uncle Remus (Jason Merriman). Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., piloted 22-1 Stride Of Pride to a third-place finish. Owned by Burke Racing, the victory pushed Dancin Yankee’s career earnings to $1,836,957 and was his 69th lifetime win in his 217th start.

Finally, Page guided 3-5 Party At The Banks to a 1:55.3 clocking in the $60,000 mare trotting championship. The 4-year-old daughter by Break The Bank K battled the leading 6-1 A TC Queenie (Dan Noble) throughout the mile before getting the better of her rival in the lane, prevailing by 2-1/4 lengths, with 10-1 Joyfulntriumphant (Aaron Merriman) notching show honors. The win was the fifth of the season for Party At The Banks and her ninth lifetime. Her career coffers now contain $79,973 for owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.

Coming Up: Eight $60,000 Ohio Sires Stakes consolations for 2- and 3-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies are set to spar at Northfield Park on Oct. 13, wrapping up the 2018 OSS season.