Columbus, OH – Chris Page and Ron Burke darn near made a driver-trainer sweep of the pacing 2-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes held at Eldorado Scioto Downs Saturday (Sept. 6), taking five of the six divisions.
Colts I’llbetyourboots (1:51.4), Backninebar (1:52.1) and Lindy Dragonwater (1:51.4) won their divisions, with fillies Laude Da (1:54) and Shacarri (1:53.3) winning theirs.
The lone non-Burke trained winner was She’safirewoman (Luke Hanners), who won her division nearly gate-to-wire in 1:54. The Mark Winters trainee originally got away second, but took over well before the :27.3 opening quarter and led through the :57.1 half and 1:26.1 third-quarter. She’safirewoman held off a late bid by pocket-sitter Pacey Station (Page) to win by a length; Rose Run Bristol (Kayne Kauffman) was third.
She’safirewoman, by Catch The Fire out of the McArdle mare Shesasmokinlady, is a homebred for owner Harry Horowitz. The striking roan filly now has seven wins in eight starts with $169,189 in earnings.
The first Burke/Page combo to win on the night was I’llbetyourboots, who made it two in a row in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4. Getting away third as Prolific Blend (Austin Hanners) made the top,
I’llbetyourboots pulled just as the field hit the :27.1 quarter and made the front going under the line for the first time. Hitting the half in :56.1 and the third-quarter in 1:24.1, I’llbetyourboots was able to hold off the bid by pocket-sitter Prolific Blend to win by a length and three-quarters. Catch My Dragon (Tyler Smith) got up for third.
Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Larry Carr own the five-time winner in eight starts who now has $161,460 in earnings. By Summa Cum Laude out of the Real Desire mare Age of Consent, I’llbetyourboots was bred and trained by Judy Roegner for his first couple lifetime starts before joining the Burke Brigade.
Lindy Dragonwater took the last OHSS of the evening, winning in 1:51.4. While Pet Project (Trevor Smith) took the early lead towards the :27.1 opening quarter, Lindy Dragonwater got away third from post six. Smith confidently handled Pet Project through the :56.4 half and 1:24.2 third-quarter, but Lindy Dragonwater was out and moving first up heading down the backside. Coming off the last turn, Lindy Dragonwater used the momentum to win by a length and three-quarters over Odds On Sugar (Dexter Dunn); Crocodile Station (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was third.
Lindy Dragonwater was a $100,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Lindy Farms. By Downbytheseaside out of the Dragon Again mare Imagine Dragon, the gelding is owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, Beasty and Brad Grant. Now with four wins in six starts, Lindy Dragonwater has $108,680 earned.
Backninebar broke his maiden taking the second division in 1:52.1. Page got the colt away fourth from the gate as the field went towards the :27.2 opening quarter. Thunder Jam (Mike Wilder) took the field to the :55.3 half with Backninebar coming first up. Putting a nose in front by the 1:23.3 third-quarter, Backninebar won by a length and a quarter over Caillou Hanover (Dan Noble); Thunder Jam was third.
Backninebar, by Downbytheseaside out of the Western Ideal mare Restless De Vie, was bred by co-owner Knox Services. A first-time winner in seven starts, Backninebar now has $48,576 earned for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services.
Laude Da also broke her maiden, winning her split in 1:54. Getting away sixth from post seven, Laude Da watched as Stride For Stride (Justin Irvine) went straight to the front and led the field through fractions of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:24.3. Flushing cover going into the second turn, Laude Da slowly made her way closer to the lead, tipping three-wide at the three-quarters. Coming wide down the stretch, Laude Da won by a nose over Stride For Stride; Zooom Call (Noble) was third.
Laude Da is a homebred for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services. By Summa Cum Laude out of the Real Desire mare Real Diva, Laude Da now has $56,212 earned in four lifetime starts.
Confidently handled coming down the stretch, Shacarri took her division in 1:53.3. Getting away fifth during the :28.3 opening quarter as She’s As Well (Jeremy Smith) set the tempo, Page pulled Shacarri as the field straightened down the stretch the first time. Making the top before the :58.1 half and looking strong going to the 1:26.1 third-quarter, the pair cruised home, winning by five lengths over Ima Beach Girl (Chris Lems) and Rodeo Dancer (Brett Miller).
By Summa Cum Laude out of the Rockin Image mare Rockin Racer, Shacarri now has four wins in seven starts and $134,075 in earnings. Another homebred for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura, and a half sister to Louprint, Shacarri is also co-owned by Zippett Racing Stable.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet is down to the last week, going through Saturday, Sept. 13. Racing will be held Wednesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m., except for Friday (Sept. 12) – a special late first post of 6:45 p.m. will help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.