Two Burke-trained, owned standouts put on show
Two tracks. Two states. Two wins.
My Girl EJ — a 2023 Breeders Crown champion as a 2-year-old filly pacer and TCI — the richest 2-year-old trotter ever last year- shined Saturday as mature and strong 3-year-olds.
The two Ron Burke-trained and owned standouts put on impressive shows.
My Girl EJ showed Saturday afternoon at The Meadows why the Hall-of-Fame trainer feels so strongly about her ability and possibilities.
In the most impressive performance of Adios Day, My Girl EJ showed dominance setting a track and stakes record, crushing the field — which included rival Geocentric, who finished up the track.
Burke, who said he considered having My Girl EJ enter The Adios, said speed is the key.
“She has a great attitude,” Burke said. “She has great speed and is just a great horse.”
Much later in the day and at The Meadowlands in N.J., TCI allayed any fears after two recent losing efforts by winning his $100,000 division of the Hambletonian eliminations in 1:50.4.
“That’s the horse I know,” Burke said of TCI’s performance. “The last loss was a wakeup call. There was no other reason other than we just got beat.”
TCI’s win set up a highly-anticipated rematch against Karl, who rebounded after his recent first loss, to easily capture his division of Hambletonian eliminations.
My Girl EJ (Sweet Lou-Lucy’s Pearl) with Dexter Dunn in the bike moved first over from fifth, and she kept right on going until she scored in 1:48.4 — the fastest distaff mile ever at The Meadows — in the $104,225 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for sophomore harness racing filly pacers.
The time lowered the track’s all-age filly and mare pacing record as well as the stake mark established by Allstar Rating in 2014.
When she challenged the leader, Geocentric, it was a battle of 2023 Breeders Crown winner challenging last year’s Dan Patch Award winner.
My Girl EJ cleared easily and went on to defeat CanIgetalouploup, also trained by Burke, by 2-3/4 lengths, with Asweetbeachhere third.
“She’s pretty quick and she’s pretty tough, too,” Dunn said. “Once the fractions set up for her, I didn’t know I would win like that, but I knew I’d be in the fight.”
As for TCI, who went wire-to-wire with Hall-of-Fame driver David Miller, roared from post 1 for the lead in a :27.3 first panel while Private Access and Amazing Catch followed into a :56.1 half. Secret Agent Man went first over to the final turn but only moved evenly through three-quarters in 1:24. Not even a strong challenge near the wire by Private Access, the only remaining rival in contention, could stop TCI. He has earned $1,418,507.
Miller confirmed in the winner’s circle that TCI overcame some stomach problems and that Burke added some shoe changes to aid the victory.
“I was planning on getting him out (in front) early,” Miller said, “and we went as easy as I could.”
TCI has won 14 of 18 starts and earned $1,418,507.
He is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables & Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi.
The $1 million Hambletonian final will be held Saturday afternoon at The Meadowlands.
A third Burke-trained horse, M-M’s Dream, a 5-year-old, made a pocket trip before powering home to win the $40,000 fifth leg of the Miss Versatility, for open mare trotters, in 1:51.2 with driver Yannick Gingras.