Gate to Wire Effort by Escape The News in Aquarius Final

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ— Escape The News, off a victory in leg 2, took the sextet of four-year-old pacers around the Meadowlands oval to win the $57,000 Aquarius Final on Saturday, March 16.

Escape The News got the top and Warrawee Needy tuck into second. Mr Dennis tracked them from third as Escape The News paced the quarter in :27. In Commando made a move to the outside approaching the half, supplying cover to Bakin On The Beach. Post time favorite Warrawee Needy and Mr Dennis were locked at the cones through a :55 (:28) rated half-mile.

In Commando was in pursuit of the lead into the far turn. Escape The News gave him the cold shoulder passing three-quarters in 1:22.4 (:27.4). Warrawee Needy had room to pace as In Commando faltered at the top of the stretch. Yo Cheyenne Rocky began passing tiring rivals and moved into third. Escape The News battled off a drifting Warrawee Needy through the stretch and held on by a ½ length to win in 1:49.3. Warrawee Needy was second, it was another 5 lengths back to Yo Cheyenne Rocky in third.

Escape The News ($5.00) is a four-year-old gelding by Artiscape, out of the mare Ideal News by Western Ideal. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Jjk Stables and Howard Taylor, trained by Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras did the steering. 

The Year of the Milestone

With all the hysteria following Dave Palone going after the record for all-time dash winning driver, others aim to reach other milestones of their career.


Geo. Napolitano at Pocono

Over the last couple of months, drivers and trainers have been accomplishing several feats that make their name stand out among the rankings. Recently, George Napolitano Jr. racked his 5,000^th win at Harrah’s Philadelphia on June 17. On the training side of it, Mark Ford earned his 3,000^th win at Saratoga.

Other drivers that reached a milestone this year includes Yannick Gingras (4,000 wins), Tim Tetrick (7,000 wins), Anthony Morgan (14,000 wins) and Wally Hennessey (8,000 wins).

Ron Pierce moved up the standings to second in all-time earnings. With his recent victories in the Goodtimes and Mohawk Gold Cup, he passed Mike Lachance with career earnings of $186.06-million, as Lachance’s were $185.92-million. John Campbell is the all-time leader with $278.2-million.

Many drivers and trainers are approaching major milestones in their career. Driver Pat Berry is approaching his 3,000^th win. The Illinois native is currently nineteenth in the standings at the Big M, with three victories out of 153 starts.



Dave Palone doing the "Filion" to the
winners circle

Dave Palone has received a lot of attention from his bid to 15,181 wins (making him North America’s all-time dash winning driver). The fifty-year-old has finished on top of the standings at The Meadows a whopping 23 times in all three categories!

Herve Filion is the all-time dash leader until Dave passes him.

Listed below are other horseman that should reach a milestone by the end of the year:

Ron Burke- 3,000 training victories

Casie Coleman- 2,000 training victories

Greg Grismore- 6,000 driving victories

Roger Hammer- 2,000 training victories

Mark MacDonald- 5,000 driving victories

Paul MacDonell- 5,000 driving victories

Ervin Miller- 4,000 training victories

Julie Miller- 1,000 training victories

Brian Sears- 8,000 driving victories

We wish them the best of luck in marking their name as the best in the sport.