Bay colt by Real Artist – Graceful Motion – Beach Towel


BREEDERS: Ronald Mersky, Paris, KY

OWNERS: Howard Taylor, Penn Valley, PA; Robert Feldman, Gladwyne, PA; Edwin Gold, Phoenixville, PA & Jerry Silva, Long Beach, NY

STATISTICS:
2010 7 4 1 2 $273,990
2009 9 2 1 0 $72,422
Totals 16 6 2 2 $346,412

LIFETIME MARK: 3, 1:48.4, The Meadows

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS & NOTES:
Purchased for $65,000 at Lexington Select Sale in October 2008

At two:
• Broke maiden August 19 at The Meadows in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes in 1:52.4
• Finished eighth to Malicious in Metro elimination, August 29 at Mohawk
• Won Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Consolation September 29 at The Meadows in 1:53

At three:
• Finished third in Berrys Creek elim, then was second to Rock N Roll Heaven, beaten only one and one-quarter lengths, in Berrys Creek final, May 8 at the Meadowlands
• Won Hempt elimination on May 15 and $300,000 Hempt final on May 22 at Pocono Downs in 1:49.4
• Set life mark of 1:48.4 at The Meadows on June 12 when winning Pennsylvania Sires Stake
• Finished third to All Speed Hanover, two and three-quarter lengths behind, in second Cup elimination on June 19


ELIMINATION QUOTES: Dave Palone, Driver
“I was very happy with him overall. He had a little bit of a steering issue and, if anything, he was getting in a little bit, which I think might be his tendency when he’s not on the lead.”

“The race looked like it was going to get a little silly early and, after that 1:48.4 mile at The Meadows, I didn’t want to torture him. I’d love to have won tonight and got to select post but it just didn’t turn out. They all left the gate and I just found a spot and raced him fourth over. But, he paced home good.”

“He’s better up close. He’s better not being out two turns, you know. As much ground as you can save with him, the better he will be. I don’t really think he takes a back seat to any of these colts.

I hope he can get a good spot where he can maybe have a chance to prove himself. He is better than the effort looked.”

“To win this would rank right up there in my career. I know how much it means to the Canadian fellas but they don’t understand how much it would mean to us (American drivers), too. It’d be nice to have on my resume.”


Trainer – Ronald Burke
Age: 40

• Ron Burke is the head trainer for the powerful Burke Stable, started by his father, Mickey. The stable has been one of the leaders in both wins and earnings in North America for the past four seasons, totaling more than 2,500 victories and $41 million in purses.
• In 2009, Burke saw Buck I St Pat win her second consecutive Dan Patch Award as the sport’s top trotting mare and Won The West claim division honors among older male pacers.
• Both horses had Breeders Crown titles among their triumphs. Foiled Again won the 2009 $370,000 Levy final and Straight Shooting claimed the $265,000 American-National.
• Other top horses for Burke in recent years include Blueridge Western, Maltese Artist, May June Character and 2007 Jugette winner Western Graduate.


Driver – Dave Palone
Age: 48
Career Wins through June 20, 2010: 13,759
Purse Earnings through June 20, 2010: $84,505,879

• Born February 13, 1962 in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, Dave Palone has been one of the leading drivers in North America for nearly 20 years. He has finished in the top five in wins every year since 1990 and on three occasions, in 1999 (725), 2000 (739) and 2004 (669), he led all drivers in wins.
• Although he was the top driver on the continent in victories during the 1990s with 5,862, the 1999 campaign marked the first time that Palone had ever won a single season North American dash title. His total of 725 victories that year easily bettered Chris Christoforou’s 642. He followed up with a career best 739 victories in 2000 and captured his second straight dash title, outdistancing Stephane Bouchard’s total of 671. In both of those campaigns, Palone received the Driver of the Year Award from the Harness Tracks of America. He has gone on to earn that honor four times, as he also took the title in 2003 and 2004.
• Over the years, he’s handled a number of good horses, including trotter Dontellmenomore, who won seven of 10 starts in 1991 and $526,936 In 1999, Palone reached a career pinnacle when he finally won The Adios, the premier event of the year at The Meadows, piloting Washington VC to a two and three-quarter length win over Triple Crown champion Blissfull Hall in 1:52.3 in the $284,331 final.
• His top horse in 2005 was the three-year-old pacing colt P-Forty-Seven, a winner in eight of his 17 trips to post, with earnings of $566,174. The duo was at their best in the Little Brown Jug, capturing their $68,284 elimination in 1:53.4 and the $307,277 second heat final in 1:52.1. He also drove P-Forty-Seven to the title in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final and to a second place finish in the $321,800 Adios Final.
• His 632 victories in 2005 placed him fourth among all drivers in North America and his overall UDR of .418 ranked him second among drivers with 500 or more starts. His purse earnings of $4,539,742 was good enough for 19th place among the continent’s best.
• Palone was bitten by the harness bug at age 15, when trainer Herman Hylkema allowed him to jog a horse owned by the youngster’s father. Going right to the harness world after high school, Palone worked his way up to Hylkema’s second trainer, then moved on to The Meadows. He then tried The Meadowlands for several years as a trainer, but decided that he was more comfortable back home at The Meadows, where he has remained ever since.