Burke seeking first Hambletonian victory
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
Ron Burke admits a Hambletonian victory is the one that has gotten away.
The winningest trainer in the sport is missing one big stake race — the Hambletonian.
Burke and one of his prized pupils — TCI — one of the best 3-year-old trotters is the Hall of Famer’s most recent contender for the Hambletonian title.
He’s one of his strongest entrants yet.
As much as Burke would like a TCI victory and a much as it would mean for his and TCI’s legacies, this time around he’s not stressing it.
“Win or lose, it’s not going to change my life,” Burke said. “Of course, we’re talking about a lot of money and stud implications.
“I’ve learned to enjoy the opportunity and the process as I get older. Before I was so caught up with winning, it took away the joy and excitement of preparing for it.”
TCI will battle his rival, Karl, in the final. Karl, who will leave from the rail in the $1.05 million Hambletonian Saturday at The Meadowlands, is the favorite at 6-5.
Other finalists are Mars Hill (2), Highland Kismet (3), Security Protected (5), Bella’s Musclehill (6), Secret Agent Man (7), Sig Sauer (8), Private Access (9) and Amazing Catch (10).
Burke doesn’t see this as a match race.
“There are four or five horses who have a chance to win,” Burke said. “I don’t think anybody feels invincible. We’ll all have to be ready.”
Highland Kismet, Security Protected and Sig Sauer are the likely biggest threats to Karl and TCI.
Burke has every right to be at least a little bitter and feel snake bitten when it comes to the Hambletonian.
Seven years ago, Burke and Hall of Fame driver – Dave Miller – thought they won the Hambletonian with What The Hill. But the result was overturned as the judges disqualified the horse, ruling that Miller had interfered during the race.
Other near misses for Burke include:
• In 2015, he had the 4-5 favorite in Mission Brief, who was defeated by three-quarters of a length.
• In 2016, Southwind Frank lost by a nose.
• Last year, he had two horses – Celebrity Bambino and Point of Perfect win Hambletonian divisions who fell short in the final.
The Hambletonian will be the third meeting between Karl and TCI and first since Karl’s victory in the Breeders Crown in October at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. TCI, who finished second in the Breeders Crown, defeated Karl in a division of the International Stallion Stakes three weeks earlier at Lexington’s Red Mile.
Karl’s loss by a nose to TCI was his only defeat in 10 starts in 2023. He earned $1.04 million and received the Dan Patch Award for best 2-year-old male trotter. TCI won 10 of 12 races and earned $1.23 million to become the richest 2-year-old male trotter in history. He received the O’Brien Award for best freshman male trotter to race in Canada, where his triumphs included the Mohawk Million.
This year, Karl has won five of six races and earned $232,839 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter. He finished third in a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 13 at The Meadowlands but rebounded to win his Hambletonian elimination by 1-1/4 lengths over Bella’s Musclehill in a career-best 1:50.3.
“I think everybody was a little hard on him,” Takter said after the elimination, referring to the reaction to Karl’s loss two weeks earlier. “He had a really tough trip and he’d raced one time in six weeks, so he definitely needed that race. Obviously, we didn’t want to lose, but it happens. They’re horses, they’re not machines.
Takter, who won the Hambletonian last year with Tactical Approach, is bidding to become the first trainer to win the race in consecutive years since her father, Jimmy, in 2014 with Trixton and 2015 with Pinkman. The only other trainer to pull off consecutive victories since the Hambletonian moved to The Meadowlands in 1981 was Per Eriksson in 1991-92.
TCI may be Burke’s best chance to win the elusive Hambletonian.
“The neat part is both me and David (Miller) are still looking for our first win here. We’re both looking for redemption,” Burke said. “No matter what, I’m not going to make myself sick over this.”