Burke’s Eastie Boy and Stonebridge Blitz aim for Matron Stakes at Dover Thursday

“Both of them seem really good going in,” Ron Burke said about the $115,000 Grade 3 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers, which opens the final month of the Grand Circuit season Thursday at Bally’s Dover, Daily Racing Form reported.

The race, scheduled as the eighth on a 13-race card with an estimated 6:50 p.m. EST post time, features Burke’s Eastie Boy and Stonebridge Blitz as the top morning-line choices at 2-1 and 5-2 respectively after drawing the inside posts in the six-horse field.

Eastie Boy Leads the Earnings Chart

Eastie Boy, who counts the Metro Pace (G1) among his four victories this season, will start from post 1 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky. The homebred son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer has hit the board in eight of 11 starts and banked $590,432 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and Phil Collura, leading all 2-year-old male pacers in earnings this season. Breeders Crown champion Blazin Lou sits second on that list with $519,550, while Starstruck Dreamer and Shalom Hanover have each surpassed $400,000.

Eastie Boy comes from a notable family, being a full sibling to two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Louprint and a half-sibling to graded-stakes winner Shacarri. “He’s just a really, really good horse,” Burke said. “He just tries hard. That mare (Rockin Racer) just seems to make horses that try their hearts out.”

Stonebridge Blitz Finds His Stride

Stonebridge Blitz, a son of Tall Dark Stranger-Shouldabeenatd, will leave from post 2 with Yannick Gingras driving. The colt captured divisions of the Bluegrass (G3) and International Stallion (G3) at the Red Mile last month and has recorded six top-three finishes in 12 races with earnings of $174,692 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Michael Rosenthal, and Frank Baldachino, according to U.S. Trotting News.

A equipment change appears to have transformed the colt’s season. “We made a bit change on him, and he’s able to be held now, and that’s been the whole difference with him,” Burke said. “Before, he was about half out of control. Now, he’s easy going.”

Breeders Crown Setbacks Fuel Redemption

Both colts enter Thursday’s Matron off less-than-ideal showings in the Breeders Crown for freshman male pacers on Oct. 23 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Eastie Boy finished fourth, beaten by a length, while Stonebridge Blitz was sixth from post 8.

In the Breeders Crown final, Eastie Boy launched from post 6, gained over two lengths from fifth in the stretch while swinging four-wide coming off the turns, clocked a final quarter of 26 1/5, and finished just a quarter-length shy of third. “When Eastie Boy got out, he was loaded,” Burke said. “He was very good.” Stonebridge Blitz was ninth at three-quarters but closed in 26 seconds, equaling the fastest last quarter of any horse in the field. “There was no chance from where they were sitting,” Burke added. “They can be way more aggressive in this spot.”

Governor’s Cup Awaits on Nov. 14

Following Thursday’s Matron, only one graded event remains for the freshman colts: the Governor’s Cup (G1) on Nov. 14 at the Meadowlands. Burke plans to send Eastie Boy to that race. “I think he’s sharp and I’ve not over-raced him, so I’m going to give him a shot,” he said.

Hungry Marco, a winner on the Pennsylvania stakes circuit, looms as the 7-2 third choice on the morning line. Stay Hungry-Always Giggling’s son is set to depart from post 5 with Tim Tetrick in the sulky for trainer Jamie Sullivan.

“I’m really happy with him.”

Under Ron Burke’s training, Eastie Boy placed in seven straight starts before falling just short of the top three in the Breeders Crown.

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