Burke Stable has favorite for Hempt

Two elimination divisions of the Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace will highlight the 16-race Saturday card at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. There will be a special post of 5 pm in conjunction with the simulcast of the Preakness from Pimlico. 

The first four finishers and the fastest fifth-place finisher from the two elimination races will advance to the $300,000 finals the following Saturday night. 

Trainer Ron Burke will have four entries in those elimination races Saturday. In Race 3 (first elim), Burke conditions Lap Hanover and Blueridge Fortune. Burke also has two horses in the second elim (Race 7): Fred And Ginger and Relaxed Fit. 

“Fred And Ginger is my best shot of winning the Hempt,” said Burke, who has a stable of some 185 horses racing in North America. “I really feel he can step it up and get to the next level. I like the post for his elimination race and David (Palone) is coming to drive the colt. 

“Relaxed Fit had some problems at the gate last week at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and went on a break. We trained him hard this week to keep his mind on business. He’s a very fast horse. We’re giving Blueridge Fortune a shot after the improvement the horse has made in the last several starts. He just missed winning the Mohegan Pace Final from the outside post.” 

Burke added that Lap Hanover was a last minute addition to the Hempt after winning at the Meadowlands May 8 with a first-over move to win handily in 1:53. “He earned his way,” concluded Burke. 

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