from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — Trainer Steve Elliott hopes a trip to the Lady Liberty can reignite Burning Point’s fire. The 7-year-old mare, who has two victories in nine races this season, won the race in 2005 and 2006 and will be looking to complete the hat trick Friday (June 1) in this year’s $225,000 final.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Burning Point has banked more than $2.77 million in her career.

Last year, Burning Point’s victory in the Lady Liberty was her first win of the season and propelled her on a streak that saw her win the Breeders Crown and Roses Are Red. She was voted the Dan Patch Award as the sport’s top older female pacer.

“I hope she races better than she’s been racing,” Elliott said. “Whatever it is, we’re looking for it and can’t find it. I’m hoping she just needs the weather to heat up, just like past years. She trained very good (Tuesday); she acted sharper, better. She’s going to have to make a big turnaround to win this year.”

Burning Point’s last win was April 27 in an Open at Yonkers Raceway. She was 10th in the Strada Memorial on April 21 and sixth in her two most recent starts, May 5 in the Classic Series and May 13 in the Matriarch. Historically, Burning Point is at her best from June until September. Over the past two years, she won 10 of 20 starts during that time frame and added six second place finishes.

“I’m just hoping she’s not saying that she’s had enough,” Elliott said. “She’s sound and happy and doesn’t show any signs of wear and tear. I hope when the weather heats up she’ll come back to herself.”

The Lady Liberty features an eight-horse field. Joining Burning Point are last year’s runner-up, Marnie Hall, plus Darlin’s Delight, Double Dream N, Easton Alliance N, Miss Galvinator A, Pilgrims Witchie, and Street Dancer.

Past winners of the race include award-winners Loyal Opposition, Worldly Beauty, and Eternal Camnation.

Delightful effort

Darlin’s Delight, last season’s 3-year-old female pacing champion, got her first win in the older ranks on Friday, May 25, at the Meadowlands. It was the second start of the year for Darlin’s Delight, who was third in her debut.

Lisa Photo

Darlin’s Delight was a 1:51.2 winner in last Friday’s Mares Open at The Meadowlands.

“It’s going to be tough this year,” driver Yannick Gingras said. “Last year we took it easy on her; she had a lot of starts in New York and weeks off between races. This year, it’s really condensed. She’s going to get about 20 starts in five months; she’s barely going to get a week off. She’s really good when she’s fresh, so I don’t know how she’s going to respond to that.”

Last year, Darlin’s Delight won 10 of 15 races, including the Fan Hanover, Lady Maud, Rose Of Tralee, New York Sire Stakes championship, and James Lynch Memorial. She was second in the Breeders Crown. Lifetime, she has 20 wins in 31 starts and earnings of $1.5 million. She’s finished worse than third only once.

“We’re going to try to win every week, but race her conservative; not too many trips on the front end,” Gingras said. “On a small track, I think she’s very hard to beat if she puts her legs in front. On a mile track, it’s a long stretch and she’s not as big as some of the other mares, so you have to save her a bit. But I’m not intimidated by any of them. She can go with them.”