Page looks back at ‘good’ night
Driver wins six, including another Next Generation event.
by Jay Wolf
Columbus, OH, is home to ‘Red, White, and Boom,’ one of the largest Independence Day fireworks displays in the Midwest. Two days later, driver Chris Page also put on quite a show of his own, scoring six wins on last Saturday’s (July 5) Eldorado Scioto Downs stakes-laden card.
Headlining the $1 million night were the $150,000 Next Generation events for Ohio bred 2-year-olds.
The concept of the Next Generation is similar to the Mohawk Million and requires nominators to pay up to $10,000 to claim a spot in the field for any of the four events.
“I honestly don’t see how anyone in the business would not like the concept,” said Page. “It’s a great chance for owners to make money.”
Trainer Ron Burke always brings a strong contingent into the Next Gen events and thanks to a private purchase the week before this year’s event, the “Burke Brigade” had the heavily favored I’llbetyourboots in the 2-year-old colt pace.
Fresh off a 1:52.2 mile in just his second career start, the gelded son of Summa Cum Laude was bet down to 3-5 by the fans.
“The post parade was the first time I sat behind him, but I raced behind him in his first start [on June 28 with Lindy Dragonwater],” said Page.
Page had I’llbetyourboots on the lead in the opening quarter in :27.3.
Crocodile Station (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) came first up and grabbed the lead past the half in :55.4 and three-quarter station in 1:24.2.
The eventual winner was fourth on the rail at the top of the stretch, but Page used the passing lane and a :27.2 last quarter to record a 1:52 neck victory in a four-horse photo.
I’llbetyourboots is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Larry Karr. He was bred by Judy Roegner.
“He was good on the gate and he raced like an older horse,” said Page.
Page and Burke have identical records in their previous 20 Next Generation starts – nine wins, two seconds and four thirds with $861,000 in purse earnings.
“The Burkes come to play,” said Page. “It doesn’t matter what race, the Next Gen or the [Ohio] Sires Stakes, they are ready to go. They train the babies down south and when they get up here, they are ready to rock.”
In the $150,000 2-year-old filly trot, Setyoursightshigh (Mike Wilder) capitalized on a break by the leading Godusa (Dave Palone) and recorded a one-length victory over Demonic Miko (Atlee Bender) in 1:56.3.
The winner is trained by Marcus Melander for the partnership of Heights Stable, Mantorp, Amg Stable and K Kjellgren Livs Ab.
The Burke/Page entry, Mooter Tooter, was interfered with by the breaker and recovered to finish fifth, just 3¾ lengths back of the winner.
Driver/trainer Ronnie Gillespie made it back-to-back wins in the freshman colt trot as a result of Big Ranger’s gate-to-wire victory in a track record 1:54.
Gillespie picked out the In Range colt for Madison Global for $25,000 at the Ohio Select Sale.
While the filly pace division was unfortunately canceled due to a lack of entries, a $40,000 consolation event was carded, and Shacarri made the most of the opportunity.
The homebred used a :26.4 last quarter to stop the teletimer in 1:51.1 in the 2½-length victory.
The daughter of Summa Cum Laude is out of Rockin Racer, making her a half-sister to Louprint, the Pepsi North America Cup and defending Breeders Crown champ.
“She has the pedigree to be something special,” said Page. “She came into that race very well and taken care of and she was absolutely ready to go. I opened my Christmas gift a little early with that filly.
“The Summa Cum Laudes are for real. If anyone had any questions about them, they got their answers on Saturday night.”
Sandwiched around the Next Generation races were a pair of divisions of the Ohio Sire Stakes for sophomore colt pacers.
The first $65,000 division resulted in a 1-2-3 sweep by the Burke entry of Swingtown (Page), Harrisburg Heist (Wrenn, Jr.) and Fear The Hate (Dan Noble) in 1:49.4.
The trio all finished within a length of each other at
the wire.
“Swingtown holds a special place in my heart,” said Page. “He was the colt I liked the most last year as a 2-year-old.”
The second division contained the other two Burke trainees – Rick Wink (Page) and Sippinonsearoc (Wrenn, Jr.).
Rick Wink bested his stablemate by a half-length in 1:49.2.
“I have become a real big fan of Rick Wink,” said Page. “He’s the best horse that no one talks about. He’s lost one race his entire career. He is so user friendly on the racetrack. I can leave with him three straight starts and duck him with two fingers the next three. He is so natural.
“The Burke’s have the five best Ohio 3-year-old pacing colts. It’s not great for me from a driver’s perspective.”
Page summed up his evening, “It was a good night.”
With the Burke horsepower available all summer long, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that Page will have many more good nights ahead.
