Ron Burke and the Burke Brigade have always believed in Sweet Lou as a stallion, and Sweet Lou continues to repay their faith in him. Sunday’s $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series finals provide examples. Sweet Lou, trained by Burke during the horse’s Hall of Fame career, sired Burke Brigade homebreds Louprint and Looksgoodinloulou, who are the morning-line favorites in the finals for 2-year-old male pacers and 2-year-old female pacers, respectively.
Tag: Ken Weingartner
Wiesmans look forward to big weekend
For Colby Wiesman and his dad, Jon, the next three days will be collectively unlike any they experienced before. On Friday, the Wiesmans will watch Delaney Hanover compete in the $305,000 Jim Doherty Memorial for 2-year-old female trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The next day, they will turn their attention north of the border to watch Caballero in a C$40,000 elimination of the Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Then they will cap their weekend by watching Go Dog Go race in the $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series final for 2-year-old male trotters at Lexington’s Red Mile.
Logan Park set for ‘intriguing’ International
As Robert Fellows contemplated how Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot might play out, he came to one conclusion. “I’m glad I’m a trainer and not a driver,” he said. Fellows will send out Canada’s Logan Park in the International Trot, a 10-horse invitational to be contested at the distance of 1-1/4 miles on MGM Yonkers Raceway’s half-mile oval.
Kihlström hopes for luck with Hail Mary
Örjan Kihlström will hope the third time’s the charm when he drives Sweden’s Hail Mary in Saturday’s $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot, but with a challenging starting spot, he readily admitted it might require a bit of good fortune.
Saunders bullish on Manolete
Manolete is still in the early stages of his career, but trainer Bruce Saunders has already found a lot to like about the freshman male pacer as he prepares to send the colt to his $150,000 New Jersey Classic final Friday at The Meadowlands.
Periculum aims for International glory
The most recent horse to represent the U.S. and win the MGM Yonkers International Trot, Resolve in 2016, captured the million-dollar race in his first start after winning the Maple Leaf Trot. Periculum, one of two horses representing the U.S. in Saturday’s edition of the invitational event, will attempt to do the same.
Seafire looks to shine bright in OHSS championship
Brian Brown is enjoying the now with male pacer Seafire while also keeping an eye on the 4-year-old’s future. Unraced at age 2, Seafire has won 10 of 20 career races and hit the board a total of 16 times, earning $225,210. On Friday, the son of Downbytheseaside-Wildfire Princess will head to the Ohio Sire Stakes championship for older male pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Brown and driver Chris Page.
Determination fuels ‘Ardan’ success
When owner Bill Peshina bought Irish-bred pacer Oakwood Ardan in late December, he said he was just hoping for a nice racehorse he could watch every week and be proud of. Eight months and 10 wins later, Peshina added, “He’s sure done that for me.” Oakwood Ardan, trained by Robert Cleary, will make his next start Saturday in the C$540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
R Dutchess out to reign in Peaceful Way
After taking her Peaceful Way Stakes elimination with one of the fastest win times ever by a 2-year-old female trotter in Canada — only Special Way, Mission Brief and Manchego have been quicker — R Dutchess will look to duplicate her mother’s accomplishment by capturing Saturday’s (Aug. 24) C$390,000 final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Svanstedt stars set for Sun Stakes Saturday
The last time Ake Svanstedt sat behind Warrawee Michelle he became the first trainer-driver to win the Hambletonian Oaks in 35 years. On Saturday, the two will go to work together again in the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs, where Svanstedt will aim for a second straight victory in the event for 3-year-old female trotters.