Anderson, IN — The week concluded at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a Ron Burke sweep in Indiana Sire Stakes action on Sunday (Aug. 22). Two divisions for the fifth round of the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace highlighted the 14-race card.

The first division would go as the evening’s tenth race on the card, with Ron Burke trainee Roll Em picking up the victory from off the pace in a lifetime best 1:49.1 for driver Brandon Bates.

The first division went to Roll Em in a lifetime best 1:49.1. Dean Gillette Photography.

Leaving from post position five, the gelded son of Time To Roll would land in mid pack as race favorite Rockin On Venus and Mike Oosting would set the tempo through an opening quarter of :27. Up the backstretch, Trace Tetrick launched a quick quarter move from third to take the lead with Virgo at the half in :55. As Virgo led the field into the far turn, Roll Em and Bates would flush the cover of Saddle Up to be a second over fifth at three-quarters in 1:22.1, still with seven lengths to make up on the leaders in the stretch.

As Virgo and Rockin On Venus began to duel at the top of the lane, Roll Em would launch off cover, utilizing a :25.3 explosion to get up in deep stretch, chasing down Virgo and opening up by 1-1/4 lengths at the line to pick up the victory in 1:49.1. Virgo would stay on for second, and Rockin On Venus would round out the trifecta.

Roll Em has now picked up three straight victories. The June purchase by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Beasty LLC now has five victories on the season and boasts lifetime earnings of $75,260 following his score in the $51,500 first division.

Following his stablemate’s lead in the $55,120 second division, Rogers Image would pick up his fourth straight victory, scoring from well off the pace with driver John De Long for the Burke Brigade.

Leaving from outside post nine, Rogers Image would land near the rear of the field off the gate in what would prove to be a busy mile on the front. After a hot :26.1 opening quarter, Skyway Victor and Trace Tetrick pulled the pocket to gain control of the race up the backstretch, before Peter Wrenn gave Joelsyy Hanover his marching orders, taking over at the half in :53.4.

The field of 11 would begin to bunch on the turn as Joelsyy Hanover led though three-quarters in 1:23 with Skyway Victor waiting for the passing lane and Rogers Image yet to make any noise from the backfield, sitting third over in sixth. That would quickly change in the stretch as De Long would unleash Rogers Image, quickly gobbling up ground on the leaders, using a :26.3 final quarter to get the jump on Skyway Victor and a hard charging Betterrock along the rail to score the victory in 1:50.2.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Ras Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Rogers Image picked up his fifth victory on the season. The gelded son of Rockin Image-Remi’s Rocket pushed his bankroll to $127,303 for his career with the victory.

Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (Aug. 25) with a 14-race card that will feature 2-year-old trotters in Indiana Sire Stakes action, with two divisions set to go for the trotting fillies and three for the colts. With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will be conducted through Dec. 4. For more information on the upcoming live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.