The sophomore sensation that is On To Norway concluded his 3-year-old season with a 23rd straight victory, out-dueling a game Gimpanzee Dancer to take the $47,700 Thanksgiving Classic as one of four wins on the evening for trainer Ron Burke on Friday (Nov. 28) at Harrah's Hoosier Park.
Tasked with the far outside post seven, On To Norway and driver John De Long were able to find a seat in third on the first turn while Gimpanzee Dancer (Marcus Miller) rocketed to the top through a quarter of 27 3/5. Gimpanzee Dancer continued on the engine to the half in 56 seconds when De Long fed On To Norway racetrack, moving into second on the outside and within a half-length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:24 4/5. With the plugs out, On To Norway grabbed a short lead at the head of the lane while Gimpanzee Dancer battled gamely for much of the stretch before On To Norway wore him down, crossing the wire a length in front in 1:52 3/5. Karinchak (Jordan Ross) split horses late to be third, 1 1/2 lengths back as the longest shot on the board at 53-1.
With his only defeat coming in his sophomore debut, On To Norway ($2.20) ends 2025 with a record of 24-23-1-0 and seasonal earnings of $636,294 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. The Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding was bred by Bennett Farms Inc. of MI and surpassed $650,000 in career earnings while having won 27 of 33 lifetime.
Burke and De Long also teamed up with Harrisburg Heist, who won his third straight when he took the $55,200 Thanksgiving Classic for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Leaving from post four as the 1-2 favorite, Harrisburg Heist settled in the pocket behind a revved-up Chandler Bing, who blitzed to the opening station in 26 1/5. Chandler Bing sprinted to the half in 54 2/5 while under siege from Banderas (Atlee Bender) before the duo paced to three-quarters in 1:22 2/5 with Harrisburg Heist swelling with pace behind the lead pair. Banderas retreated turning for home, giving Harrisburg Heist clearance, and he exploded home in 27 1/5 to pace by Chandler Bing and cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear in 1:49 4/5. Rick Wink (Kyle Wilfong) rallied from the backfield to nail Chandler Bing for the place position behind his stablemate.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Harrisburg Heist ($3.00) has won four of his last five and 13 of 22 on the year. The Downbytheseaside-Cashaway gelding was bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz and has banked $517,962 this year.
Ron Burke's other two winners on the card were Dixie Dream (Trace Tetrick, $3.80) and Tickertape Hanover (Atlee Bender, $4.20).
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John De Long teamed up with his wife, Tabby, for his third stakes score of the evening with Can'ttouchthese, who led every step in the $49,200 Thanksgiving Classic 3-year-old filly pace. Leaving from the outside in the quintet of fillies, Can'ttouchthese grabbed the lead with a 27 second first quarter before reaching the half in 56 1/5. After being unchallenged at three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, Can'ttouchthese held the pocket-sitting Send It Down Slim (Jordan Ross) at bay by three-parts of a length with a 26 4/5 last quarter to stop the timer in 1:51 3/5. Vel Cinderella (Atlee Bender) was third, 1 3/4 lengths back of the winner.
Can'ttouchthese ($2.20) has won five of her last six and 11 of 21 on the year for owners and breeders William and Patrick De Long and Douglas Riccolo. The daughter of JK Endofanera-Can't Touch This has racked up $299,206 in earnings in 2025 and surpassed $550,000 lifetime following the win.
Win streaks and favorites were both safe in the stakes action on the evening, going four-for-four on the night after Divine Thing extended her win streak to three in the $42,600 Thanksgiving Classic 3-year-old filly trot. Leaving from the rail with Trace Tetrick aboard, Divine Thing got away third to the quarter in 28 1/5 before trotting around Fifty To Win (Marcus Miller) and assuming the lead position just after the half of 57 1/5. From there, Divine Thing raced to three-quarters in 1:26 3/5 before drawing away in the lane, romping by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:55. Made Of Dreams (Kevin Lambright) was second, with Fifty To Win finishing third.
Steve Carter trains Divine Thing ($2.40), who has won seven of 18 this year for owner Jay Mossbarger. The daughter of Greenshoe-A Thing Goin On was bred by Crawford Farms and has earned $219,932 this year to push her career bankroll beyond $480,000 with the win.
While the stakes races were formful, a $201.80 bomb in Byassee's Bobcat forced carryovers in both the early Pick 5 and early Pick 4 pools on Saturday (Nov. 29) to spice up closing night. The early Pick 5 (races 1-5) has been guaranteed at $10,000 with a $2,905 carryover. The early Pick 4 (races 6-9) has been guaranteed at $20,000 with a carryover of $4,383. Additionally, there is a $9,001 carryover into the early Hoosier High 5 (race 7).
The 15-race closing night card is set to get underway with a first post of 5:30 p.m. (EST). That said, with a threat of winter weather impacting the card, Harrah's Hoosier Park is expected to make a final decision on the status of racing on Saturday at approximately 9:30 a.m. (EST) on Saturday in partnership with the Indiana Standardbred Association and Indiana Horse Racing Commission.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah's Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--