Anderson, IN — Having not tasted defeat in the Hoosier state since April of 2025, it was business as usual for On To Norway and driver John De Long as the duo catapulted off cover en route to a 1:51.2 victory in the $22,000 Open Trot Saturday, Sept. 5.
Leaving from the outside post eight as the 1-5 favorite, On To Norway floated away and settled into the fifth position while Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) trotted to his customary spot on top at the first quarter in a blistering :26.1. Ponda Jet continued to have things his way on the front end, trotting to the half in :55.1 with Flagman (Kevin Lambright) tracking in the pocket. On To Norway flushed the cover of Euguene The Genius (Brandon Bates) entering the far turn, towing into the race second-over while Ponda Jet reached three-quarters in 1:24.
Ponda Jet came under fire at the head of the lane, with Flagman finding a seam between foes and On To Norway towering off cover. Ripping off a :26.4 final fraction, On To Norway blitzed to the wire a length clear, with Flagman snagging second from Ponda Jet.
A winner in nine of 10 this season for trainer Ron Burke, On To Norway has racked up $424,250 in earnings. The Muscle Massive-One Class Act 4-year-old gelding has won 36 of 43 career starts, banking $1,084,631 lifetime for owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal.
The Burke barn swept both Opens on the Saturday card, taking the Filly & Mare pacing feature earlier in the evening with Champagne Room.
Jordan Ross piloted the even-money favorite, leaving from post five in the field of six. Champange Room was parked in third on the outside on the first turn, racing behind stablemate Goo Goo Won through a :25.4 opening panel as she paced around Angel Hill (Trace Tetrick) to the front. Champagne Room took command on the backstretch briefly before Angel Hill was back out from third, charging to the front to the halfway point in :53.2. Angel Hill blitzed to three-quarters in 1:21.2 with Champagne Room bump-drafting the Tetrick helmet while Chan’ttouchthese (De Long) raced first-over in third.
Ripping out of the pocket at the top of the stretch, Champagne Room made quick work of Angel Hill while getting the jump on a closing Can’ttouchthese. Pacing home in :27.1, Champagne Room reached the wire 1-3/4 lengths in front of Can’ttouchthese, stopping the clock in 1:48.4 over a sloppy track. Teelatini (Marcus Miller) rallied from last to grab the show spot.
Champagne Room has won two of 14 this season, earning $77,407 on the year. The royally bred 4-year-old daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-See You At Peelers is a nine-time career winner, banking $396,893 for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Knox Services.
Live racing resumes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Monday, Sept. 7 with a special Labor Day card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The 14-race program features $10,000 guarantees on both the Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and Late High 5 (Race 14) in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program. There will also be a $8,246 carryover in the Early High 5 in race seven, with free online programs available on the Hoosier Park website.