Burke horse wins $1 million International Trot
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke called it the best week had by any horse he’s owned or trained. It is two weeks but who’s counting?
Lexus Kody, conditioned by Burke, led throughout and won the Grade 1, $1 million International Trot Saturday at MGM Yonkers Raceway, N.Y.
Lexus Kody was driven by Yannick Gingras and completed the mile in 2:24.4.
Lexus Kody, with Gingras in the bike, won the Maple Leaf Trot Aug. 30 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a historic mile, breaking the Canadian, track, and stakes record in 1:49.1.
“I want to keep him as strong as he can be the rest of the year,” Burke said. “My goal is for him to be trotter of the year.
“He’s just had the best (two) weeks of any horse I have ever had. To win the Maple Leaf Trot and now this. That’s as good as it gets.”
Burke, a Canonsburg resident, is the first local trainer to win the International Trot in 51 years.
The legendary Delvin Miller trained Delomonica Hanover to consecutive victories in the race in 1973 and 1974. The horse was driven by John Chapman and Miller owned the horse with W. Arnold Hanger.
“At some point, everyone has their time in history,” Burke said. “I appreciate it. I hope everyone else who has had these opportunities appreciates them. I truly appreciate this.”
Bred in Canada by Norm Dunstan of Caledon Village, Ont., Lexus Kody (Archangel – Lexus Helios) is a 7-year-old gelding owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg. and Phil Collura of Mountain Top. The win, his 33rd lifetime, lifts his earnings to $1,934,662.
Lexus Kody smashed the all-time Canadian trotting record in the $630,000 Maple Leaf Trot (Grade 1), flying home in a 9-1 upset victory.
Saturday, Lexus Kody, a Canadian representative leaving from the rail, led the field through fractions of :28.1, :57.2, 1:27.1 and 1:56 for the mile, closing the 1-1/4-mile event in :28.4 to finish in 2:24.4.
Italy’s Diva EK IT came hard down the stretch with trainer-driver Alessandro Gocciadoro to finish second, less than a length back of the winner, with Norway’s Powwow No (Björn Goop) besting the favorite, Germany’s Gio Cash DE (Daniel Wajersten) for the show spot.
“Honestly, this horse was not even close to being 100 percent today,” Gingras said of Lexus Kody. “In the last turn, if he was 100 percent, I think he would have just taken off and won by five.”
Said Burke: “I knew soon as he hit the quarter, we could win this race. I said: ‘this is on now.’
“This is real history here, beating the best in the world. It’s a big deal.”
Burke, who has won more races and earned more purse money than another trainer in harness racing history, was particularly proud and happy.
“This is a big one, you know, this is a million American (dollars),” Burke said.
As the 3-1 second choice, Lexus Kody returned $8.76 to win. Burke added that Lexus Kody will be right back in action on Sept. 19 night at Hoosier Park in the Caesars Trotting Classic.
Down the Stretch
Charlie May, owned by Don Tiger of Canonsburg, won the $32,500 Ohio Breeders’ Championship for Aged Pacers Sunday, breaking his own stakes record of 1:49 flat in a wire-to-wire performance.
The three-horse race was at The Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio.
Charlier May was driven by Brett Miller for trainer Terry DiCicco.
The 7-year-old son of McArdle (Hickory Lane Horse Farm) now has 34 lifetime wins and now has earnings of more than $2.38 million dollars. He paid $4.40 as the 6-5 second choice.
Favorite Paris’s Dragon (Dan Noble) 2-5 finished second with Quick Trick (Chris Lems) in third.