Burke six-pack, Racing Hill head field for 50th Adios
July 19, 2016,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Muscling up for the signature race at his home track, trainer Ron Burke has entered six horses in the $450,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, where they’ll clash with Racing Hill, runner-up in both the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace.
They head a field of 12 for the Adios, which this year marks the 50th edition of the prestigious pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings that Delvin Miller founded and named for his foundation sire.
Two eliminations, each with a purse of $25,000, are set for Saturday afternoon (July 23), while the $400,000 final goes Saturday afternoon (July 30). The eliminations are scheduled as races eight and nine, with an estimated post time of 3 p.m. for race eight. The first four finishers in each elimination will return for the final, plus the horse with the highest lifetime money earnings as determined by the USTA from the two fifth place finishers will be drawn in for a final field of nine.
The most formidable of the Burke six-pack may be Check Six, who finished third in the Meadowlands Pace final and has banked $576,442 in his career. He’ll leave from post six in race eight. Burke also sends out Big Top Hanover, Fernando Hanover, Manhattan Beach, More Dragon and Stolen Glimpse. Yannick Gingras is listed as driver for all six Burke horses, so most of those assignments remain to be finalized.
Racing Hill was beaten only a nose by Control The Moment in the Meadowlands Pace, timed in 1:48.2. Trained by Tony Alagna, the son of Roll With Joe-Chasing Ideals captured the $500,000 final of the Max Hempt and has earned $757,528 lifetime. He goes from the rail in race eight.
Alagna, the only trainer besides Burke with multiple Adios entrants, also will be represented by American Passport, who finished second in the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk but has neither won this year nor raced since July 1. He’ll leave from post five in race nine for Scott Zeron.
The fields for Saturday’s Adios eliminations, in post position order:
Race 8
1. Racing Hill
2. Western Fame
3. More Dragon
4. Stolen Glimpse
5. Lyons Snyder
6. Check Six
Race 9
1. Manhattan Beach
2. Big Top Hanover
3. Fernando Hanover
4. Another Daily Copy
5. American Passport
6. Rip This Joint
- Racing Hill, Manhattan Beach installed as Adios elimination favorites (Tuesday, July 19, 2016)
Racing Hill and Manhattan Beach have been installed as the morning line favorites in Saturday’s (July 23) eliminations of the $450,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows.
- Gillespie seeks spot in Adios final with Rip This Joint (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)
Brian Gillespie was not actively participating in harness racing when his grandfather, Ed Ryan, passed away in 2012. But after attending a memorial service for Ryan, whose career in harness racing as an owner of The Meadows and amateur driver resulted in enshrinement in the sport’s Hall of Fame, Gillespie decided to get involved. The memorial service was conducted in the winner’s circle at The Meadows. Gillespie has since visited that spot numerous times as a racehorse owner. Now he dreams of standing there following The Meadows’ premier event, the 50th edition of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids. Gillespie and trainer Mike Palone will send Rip This Joint to Saturday’s Adios eliminations.
- Racing Hill is ready for Adios Orchids (Thursday, July 21, 2016)
Of the 12 competitors in the 50th edition of the $450,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows, Racing Hill may have the strongest credentials. He won the $500,000 final of the Hempt Memorial and finished second in the finals of both the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace. Those performances pushed his lifetime bankroll to $757,528.
- Burke is fishing for Adios Orchids with six chances (Friday, July 22, 2016)
With expectations of him high for Saturday’s (July 23) eliminations at The Meadows for the 50th edition of the Delvin Miller Pace for the Orchids — he trains six of the 12 entrants — Ron Burke found a way to relieve the pressure.