Hightstown, NJ -Matthew Burkholder, in the middle of his first Harness racing season for a million dollars, took his first Grand Circuit victory last week and will try to maintain the momentum on Friday when he sends two morning line favorites in divisions of the Grade 3 International Stallion Stakes at the Red Mile.
Requiem (Musket), From a 1: 52.3 victory in a Division of the Bluegrass Stakes in the Red Mile, will start the action for the 28-year-old trainer in the first race of Friday, the first of four divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters. He is the 6-5 morning-line choice in the $ 72,000 event and departs from post six in a field of seven.
In the third division, ranging for a wallet of $ 73,000, Burkwolder-Stagia Silverstein is the 9-5 morning line chalk. He comes from a third place in the Mohawk Million and starts on Friday from post four. David Miller will drive both trotters for Burkholder.
“It has definitely been a great year for us,” said Burkholder, a resident of Ohio and a resident who saw his stable bank $ 1.02 million this year, and set up his previous high of $ 664,539 last season. “I don’t try to have many expectations; you just concentrate at work, having the horses the best they can be, and the rest will take care of themselves.
“We have gradually built the stable, and every year we try to get a little better. It’s nice if you move forward every year. That is the most important thing, I think. Successfully you get trust, and I don’t think trust is a bad thing. Hopefully we can build this.”
Requiem and Silverstein, two of the 30 horses in the Burkholder stable, are both owned by David Mcelrath’s Dark Horse Farm. Silverstein was bought for $ 80,000 on the Lexington in 2024 selected yearling sales, while Requiem was a purchase of $ 45,000 at the same auction. The two trotters have combined to earn almost $ 367,000 this season.
“It is not alone; I have to thank the owners for buying good horses,” said Burkholder. “I really appreciate it, and the work of all the people around me.”
Before Burkholder had his own stable, Burkholder worked with Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame trainer Marty Wollam for six years.
“He is a great guy and was a great guy to learn from,” said Burkholder. “He taught me so much about conditioning.”
Requiem, a son of Musket-Olrich Blue Chip whose family includes the past New York Circuit -Covering Quincy Blue Chip, has hit the board in seven of the eight races, won three and earned $ 102,500. His 1: 52.3 Bluegrass -Triumph was a career best and the fourth consecutive start in which he reduced his time.
He started racing his season in the Sire Stakes in Kentucky in Oak Grove, posting two thirds and then moved to the Kyss Commonwealth series in the Red Mile. He finished third in the $ 100,000 Commonwealth final on September 15 and 10 days later won his $ 82,000 Bluegrass Division.
“He trained really well; I was quite high for him all winter,” said Burkholder. “When he ran well in Oak Grove, but he didn’t raced great. So we started him in the Commonwealth (series), and he improved every start. Last week he was very good. David also deserves the honor for that. He developed him and took him and he did not forget to do anything.
“He is a very nice horse. He has even linked it. He is not aggressive, he just does what you ask him to do. Hopefully he can continue.”
Silverstein, a son of Chapter Seven-Saling from the family of dual Dan Patch Award winner passionate glide, has hit the board in eight of the nine races, with one win and five second place Finishes. He has earned $ 263,840.
His victory came in a provisional stage of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series and was followed by three consecutive seconds, with two of the last winner of the championship series (and Mohawk Million Runner-Up) endurance.
Silverstein, who was second to in the $ 100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final in Oak Grove at mid -July, finished third in the final of the championship series on September 14. In the Mohawk Million on September 20 in Woodbine Mohawk Park, Silverstein was timed in 1: 52.1 while he finished behind Apex and endurance.
“It was a big sensation (to be in the Mohawk Million), especially at the top of the piece when it seemed as if he had a chance,” said Burkholder. “That was great. He ran super.
“But what a surprise he is. He did not train very well, made a lot of breaks. It seems that when he came behind the starting gate, he just started sorting it out, he started to get it. He is super consistent. He has been applied (1): 53 or better since his second start at Oak Grove. He is not a big horse, but he has a big heart.”
Neither Silverstein Neither Requiem is eligible, but the two trotters can continue their campaigns in Kentucky’s Cumberland Run after the end of the meeting in the Red Mile.
“We will see what they are like, but as long as they do well, we will probably go,” said Burkholder. “If they are healthy, I don’t see why not.”
Racing starts at 1 p.m. on Friday in the Red Mile. In addition to the divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for the Trotters, there are Three splits for 2-year-old female pacers. Go to the Red Mile website And scroll down.
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