Anderson, IN – Trainer Ron Burke took home the lion’s share of both splits of round three of Indiana Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts, headlined by On To Norway extending his win streak to nine with a career-best score Thursday (June 26) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Leaving widest from all from post six as the 1-2 favorite in the $49,000 first split, driver John DeLong settled On To Norway in fourth early while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) cut the quarter in :27.2. Operator rolled on the lead to the half in :55.4 when Eugene The Genius (Mike Oosting) tipped first-over from third before reaching the leader’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.2 with On To Norway towed into contention second-over.
Wilfong kicked out the plugs on Operator while On To Norway tipped three-wide around a retreating Eugene The Genius as the sprint for home began. The two leaders raced well clear of the rest, with On To Norway blitzing home in :26.2 to nail a game Operator on the wire by a half-length in 1:52.2. Fifty Rivers (LeWayne Miller) finished third at 79-1, 6-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
On To Norway has now won nine of 10 on the year and 13 of 19 lifetime. Bred by Bennett Farms Inc of Mi, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act now has $125,375 in seasonal earnings and just shy of $150,000 lifetime for owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable, and Michael Rosenthal.
In the $49,500 second division, Starlitfranknstein would get back into the win column following four consecutive second-place efforts with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the bike. Tetrick landed the 1-20 favorite in fourth from post six in the field of seven while Ponda Rocky (Atlee Bender) grabbed and early lead through a quarter of :27.4. Ponda Rocky went unchallenged to the half in :56.3 before Tetrick angled the favorite out from fourth, grinding first-over into second in pursuit of Ponda Rocky through three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Turning for home, Ponda Rocky held a firm lead in the stretch, with Starlitfranknstein still having a length to make up at the eighth pole. Starlitfranknstein continued to wear down the leader late, inching in before getting to the wire first by a neck in 1:54. Kody Kickstand (Marcus Miller) got the better of a four-horse photo for show spot, two lengths behind the winner.
Starlitfranknstein has won three of seven on the season while yet to be worse than second in 2025. The son of Swan For All-A Southern Lily has banked $69,000 on the season and went over $260,000 in career earnings for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC, and Frank Baldachino. Starlitfranknstein was bred by John Wagler.
Racing continues Friday (June 27) with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The Friday night card features two divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts in races three and 12.
Free online programs are available nightly on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website in addition to free access to race replays and other handicapping resources. Qualifying replays can be found on the Hoosier Park AV YouTube Channel.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.