Anderson, IN — On To Norway, driven by John DeLong for trainer Ron Burke, ran his win streak to 26 races with a 1:51.4 score in Saturday’s (May 30) $22,000 Open Trot at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Out of his assigned post eight, On To Norway elected to give up a little ground out of the gate as Jay Hochstetler stablemates Operator (Marcus Miller) and Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) climbed up the ranks to get to the rail. Ponda Jet found the lead at the first quarter in :26.4 with Operator settled in behind and On To Norway pressing along the outside.
On To Norway calmly advanced into the lead on the backstretch, crossing over to the cones before reaching the half-mile mark in :55.2 followed by Ponda Jet on the DeLong helmet. Nearing the stretch, On To Norway continued to cruise to the three-quarter turn in 1:24.3 with Ponda Jet and Operator being his only true adversaries as the trio began to separate from the rest.
Barreling down the homestretch, Ponda Jet found an avenue on the outside to take aim at On To Norway. On To Norway countered to the inside, holding Ponda Jet at bay by a length with a :27.4 final quarter to score in 1:51.4. Operator was third, 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner.
The Muscle Massive gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stables, and Michael Rosenthal. The 4-year-old On To Norway scored the 30th win of his career, boosting his lifetime earnings to $693,381. On To Norway accomplished his 26th straight win, having not lost since his 3-year-old debut, on April 3, 2025. On To Norway paid $3 to win.
DeLong swept the features on the evening, coming pack a few races later to take the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace with Can’ttouchthese for trainer Roger Welch.
Getting the slight nod from the bettors at 5-2, De Long floated away into fifth with Can’ttouchthese on the first turn while Goo Goo Won (Wilfong) sprinted to the lead to take the field of seven to the quarter in :26.1. Goo Goo Won continued to lead with Tarshish (Miller) in the pocket as the tempo slowed to the half in :55.4. Tarshish took her shot from second on the final turn, moving alongside Goo Goo Won at three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Can’ttouchthese ranging up third-over, five lengths back of the leader.
Goo Goo Won repelled the challenge of Tarshish turning for home before facing a new threat from Cant’ttouchthese, who towered off cover along with Fox Valley Lava (Brandon Bates) between mares. Rocketing home in :25.4, Can’ttouchthese powered clear in the final stages of the mile to win by a length in 1:51. Goo Goo Won held for second, with Fox Valley Lava third.
The 4-year-old homebred daughter of JK Endofanera-Can’t Touch This secured her first win in three tries this season. Can’ttouchthese has won 18 of 32 lifetime, banking $569,976 for owners William DeLong, Patrick De Long and Douglas Riccolo.
Racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park resumes on Wednesday (June 3) with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m.