The driver-trainer tandem have a horse in each of the six divisions of the Ohio State Fair Stakes on the same day Burke has two horses in the Hambletonian in New Jersey.

by Jay Wolf

The 2023 Ohio State Fair Stakes wraps up Saturday night (Aug. 5) at Eldorado Scioto Downs and on paper it appears that the Chris Page/Ron Burke duo are poised for a big night.

Page has a drive in each of the six divisions of the OSF divisions, each one with a Burke trainee.

In the $172,000 (div) Buckeye State Pace for freshman colt and gelding pacers, Page will steer Outer Banks (post 6) in the first division.

Outer Banks, the son of Downbytheseaside—Speedo Miss, has won half of his four seasonal starts, including the first two legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes. He was a solid third last time out one week ago at Scioto Downs in the third OHSS leg.

In the second division, Page will guide Midwind Beach Boy from post 8. The $150,000 Next Generation champion followed up his seasonal debut win with a victory and a pair of second-place finishes in the Ohio Sire Stakes. He is the richest colt in the field by the virtue of his $115,000 in earnings.

“[Midwind] is fast, but I have to take care of him. He acts like he can get hot. My job has been to make money and to keep him from getting too warm,” said Page. “I have two really nice colts in this division. There is not too much that separates the two.”

While the two may be close in talent, Outer Banks definitely drew into the tougher of the two $86,000 divisions where he will have to face Janelle Granny, a winner of $85,411, from the rail and Clever Cody (1:51.2f; $56,800) from post 4.

Burke Racing Stable, RAS Racing and J & T Silva – Purnel & Libby own both colts and they added Weaver Bruscemi to the ownership group on Outer Banks and Knox Services on Midwind Beach Boy.

A pair of $73,500 divisions of the 3-year-old colt trot will go postward for the Governor’s Cup.

Rose Run Yorick, who was unraced at 2, is trying to make up for lost time. He has a 3-2-1 record in 13 starts. His mark of 1:56.2 was taken back in April in a NW1 event at Miami Valley Raceway.

“He is kind of a year behind the others. He is still finding his legs,” said Page. “He’s got a lot of talent and Ronnie really likes that horse.”

The second division will see John Dutton, not the Kevin Costner Yellowstone character but the What The Hill—Fast Love gelding, go to the gate from post 3.

John Dutton is the fastest and the richest trotter in the division thanks to a 1:53.2 mile and his $94,791 in 2023 earnings. He has six wins in just 11 seasonal starts.

“Johnny is as sharp as anyone right now,” said Page.

Rose Run Yorick is campaigned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi.

A $33,000 yearling purchase at the 2022 Ohio Select Sale, John Dutton has earned nearly $225,000 for Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Johnny Yoder and RAS Racing.

The night concludes with two divisions for sophomore colts in the $149,700 (div) Director Of Agriculture Pace.

In the first division, Page had a choice between a pair of Burke trainees – Wicked Character (1:51.3f; $137,800) and Act Fast (1:49.4f; $259,452). Page passed on Wicked Character and selected Act Fast, who won last weekend on Adios Day at The Meadows in his lifetime best time.

“[Act Fast] had a slow start to his 3-year-old campaign. I think he’s turned the corner for the good,” said Page.

Burke Racing Stable and Knox Services share ownership in the colt with Rich Lombardo Racing and Beasty LLC.

In the final OSF division, Page will be behind The Real Way, a winner of three straight races, including two OHSS legs.

“[The Real Way] has been ultra-sharp lately. He went the big mile last week to get the cheese. It was a very good race for him,” said Page.

The homebred gelded son of Downbytheseaside—Real Diva is just $12 short of $200,000 in career earnings for breeders Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services, who co-own with the Let It Ride Stables.

The first Scioto Downs race on Saturday is scheduled about an hour and 15 minutes after the Hambletonian final is to be contested at The Meadowlands. Trainer Ron Burke will send out last week’s elimination winners – Celebrity Bambino and Point Of Perfect — in a quest to win his first Hambletonian trophy, a point not lost on Page.

“Hopefully it all comes together and Ronnie gets his first Hambo win,” said Page. “It looks like he has two very good shots to win.”