Aug 29, 2024 4 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Two exceptional local horses, 5-year gelding pacer Bythemissal and 3-year-old trotter TCI, started on the comeback trail Tuesday morning in successful qualifying races at The Meadows.

Bythemissal, a Breeders Crown champion as a 4-year-old and Adios Pace and Little Brown Jug winner as a 3-year-old, has struggled with a hind leg injury in 2024.

TCI, the richest 2-year-old trotter in history in 2023, has been plagued with sickness and inconsistency this season.

Both took their first steps back to competing with the top horses again.

Bythemissal, who hasn’t paced in a parimutuel race since June 8 at Northfield, won in 1:51.3 Tuesday in his qualifier. He went 26.4 in his last quarter.

TCI won his qualifier in 1:54.3, after sitting second most of the trip behind Benjamin Hanover. TCI went past Benjamin Hanover down the stretch with a 27.2 final quarter.

After winning his first five races this season, including a Hambletonian elimination race, TCI lost five of his last six with third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place finishes.

Burke said TCI had suffered from stomach issues but felt it had been worked it out.

“(Bythemissal) has been just super (in coming back),” Burke said. “I sat behind him and knew he was ready. He has such a great attitude. He enjoys his work. He’s all about racing.”

Burke brought in driver Chris Page to qualify Bythemissal and TCI.

Page was careful with TCI through the gate. TCI broke at the gate in his previous race.

“We just wanted a good experience for him,” Burke said. “TCI is building back. We don’t think (breaking) is a problem but we want to be in front of it not becoming one.”

Bythemissal rehabbed at the former Amulet Equine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Center and was the facility’s final patient.

Burke said Bythemissal was examined by Dr. Keith Brown, veterinarian, who gave the horse the “thumbs up.”

Bythemissal will continue to be stabled at The Meadows, Burke said.

Bythemissal is scheduled to race Sept. 7 at Sciotto Downs in Ohio in the $250,000 Jim Ewart Memorial for 4-year-old and up stallion and gelding pacers.

Blooming Rose

Rose, a daughter of Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose, established a track record last Friday at The Meadows to become the fastest 2-year-old filly pacer in track history with a 1:50.2 win. The victory ended the five-race winning streak by Papi Grad, another top-notch PA-bred.

Rose is part of the Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown, but was not a fall yearling sale purchase. Rose is one of several homebreds that the Burke Stable is finding success with this season.

Presto’s big season

Trainer Brandon Presto is enjoying the best season of his career at The Meadows.

He entered the week ranked second in wins among all trainers (84), 20 victories ahead of third-place Dirk Simpson. Burke, who led all conditioners with 119 wins, has a .397 UTRS rating, while Presto had a .379, including a 21.9-win percentage.

Down the stretch

Charlie May, owned by Canonsburg’s Don Tiger, is slated to race today at Scioto Downs in a $85,000 sire stakes final for aged pacers. Tiger confirmed that Charlie May is slated to participate in the Ewart Memorial as well.

Last Sunday, 2-year-old pacer Louprint defeated his stablemate, and world champion Sippinonsearoc, in the $80,000 third leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series at the Red Mile in Lexington.

Louprint and Sippinonsearoc are also from the Burke Stable, which has numerous standout 2-year-olds.

Louprint, driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., was favored over Sippinonsearoc, and won in 1:49.1. It was his fourth win in five starts with his lone loss to his stablemate in the first leg of the series. Louprint has won $119,864 this year.

Sippinonsearoc became the fastest 2-year-old pacer ever earlier this month, going 1:48.2 with driver Yannick Gingras.

Jeff Zidek, The Meadows’ track announcer, and his son, Ryan Zidek, contributed to this story.