Jet is top Burlington entrant

Twenty-nine of the continent’s top 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will compete in three $100,000 divisions of the Burlington Stakes this Saturday evening at Woodbine. Jereme’s Jet and Western Ace will highlight the 43rd edition of the Burlington, which is Woodbine’s key prep for the $1.5-million Pepsi North America Cup on June 17.

Jereme’s Jet, a millionaire son of Western Hanover, has drawn post nine in the 10-horse third division and trainer Tom Harmer has listed Woodbine regular Paul MacDonell to perform the driving duties.

Having put in just one qualifying effort so far this year (a win in 1:52.3), Jereme’s Jet will be making his seasonal debut in the Burlington after compiling a sparkling 2005 season in which the colt earn year-end divisional honors on both sides of the border.

“He didn’t do anything spectacular over the winter,” said trainer Tom Harmer. “He didn’t grow any or get fat. I can’t see where he changed at all, and to me that’s pretty good. He didn’t need to grow up or mature any because he was pretty mature at an early age.”

Jereme’s Jet made seven starts at two, notching six wins and one second-place effort, good for $1,176,542 in purses for the Genesis Racing Stable of Plainfield, Illinois. He took his mark of 1:50.4 in the Metro Pace and also swept the Governor’s Cup before triumphing in the Breeders Crown to cap off his season.

Western Ace, who like Jereme’s Jet put together a solid freshman campaign, has drawn into the 10-horse second division and trainer George Teague Jr. has listed Ron Pierce to be in the driver’s seat.

Western Ace, a gelded son of Western Ideal, made 14 starts at two, reaching the winner’s circle 11 times, notching a pair of second-place finishes and posting a lone show finish, good for $709,743 in purses. The brown gelding posted stakes wins in the Woodrow Wilson, Matron, Lou Babic, Niatross and Goshen Cup and took a mark of 1:51.2.

He has raced twice this season, finishing fourth in his New Jersey Classic elimination and third in the final.

Teague co-owns Western Ace along with his sister, Brenda (as Teague Inc. of Houston, Delaware) and Kovach Stables LLC of Milford, Delaware.

The nine-horse opening division looks on paper to be the most wide open of the three splits.

Total Truth, a son of Jenna’s Beach Boy who took a mark of 1:51.4 last season, has drawn post five and is set to make his 2006 racing debut for Teague and Pierce.

The bay colt raced seven times at two, posting four wins and two second-place finishes for earnings of $102,825.

Teague Inc. own Total Truth along with Only Money Inc. of Hartly, Delaware.

Bono Bests is also set to contest the opening division and the Ivan Sugg trainee has drawn post six with David Miller listed to drive.

The Pro Bono Best colt has been well raced this year, starting 14 times and currently holding a record of seven wins, one second-place finish and four third-place efforts for co-owner Sugg and Blue Chip Partners of Wallkill, New York.

Bono Bests, who has banked $157,918 in his career, has taken a hiatus leading into the Burlington, as he last raced at the Meadowlands in the final of the Berry’s Creek on May 6.

The complete fields for each of the Burlington divisions are listed below.

Division #1
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Actionuke – TBA – R. McNair
2 – Armbro Domi – M. Saftic – G. Gordon
3 – Sinister Hall – C. Christoforou – R. Laarman
4 – Perfect Union – G. Brennan – J. Silverman
5 – Total Truth – R. Pierce – G. Teague Jr.
6 – Bono Bests – D. Miller – I. Sugg
7 – Ideal Michael – L. Ouellette – W. Elliott
8 – Cammabis – J. Jamieson – T. Gray
9 – Fox Valley Appeal – B. Sears – J. Smith

Division #2
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Cookerosa – G. Brennan – M. Capone
2 – Village Jiggle – Ma. MacDonald – W. Elliott
3 – Green Sign – M. Baillargeon – B. Wallace
4 – JandJ Art – K. Wallis – A. Tomlinson
5 – Impeccable – Ra. Waples – Dr. I. Moore
6 – Western Ace – R. Pierce – G. Teague Jr.
7 – Joe To Go – L. Ouellette – J. Seekman
8 – Tyrant Hanover – Ma. MacDonald – M. Ford
9 – Armbro Dynamic – R. Zeron – R. McIntosh
10 – Eagle Luck – M. Saftic – R. McNair

Division #3
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Poker Dice – L. Ouellette – W. Elliott
2 – Perfect Magic – Ma. MacDonald – W. Elliott
3 – Touchtown – G. Grismore – S. Cox
4 – Matty McGee – A. MacDonald – S. Atkinson
5 – Mr Feelgood – Ma. MacDonald – J. Takter
6 – Toucam Sam – M. Saftic – G. Gordon
7 – Doonbeg – J. Jamieson – J. Dean
8 – Gran Sasso – Ma. MacDonald – J. Stutzman
9 – Jereme’s Jet – P. MacDonell – T. Harmer
10 – Western Search – L. Ouellette – M. Ford

Note: All horses will be racing from the Retention Barn.

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