Burke is fishing for Adios Orchids with six chances
July 22, 2016,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — 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.
He went fishing.
And just as you would expect of America’s leading trainer, he was as sharp on the ocean as he is on the track. He and his fellow anglers had been trolling the Florida coast for only 30 minutes Friday morning when they reeled in a large wahoo.
Burke hopes Adios 50 won’t be the one that got away. His six Adios entrants may be a record, but not by much.
“The last year I worked with my dad (Mickey), we had five of them in,” he said. “It’s been something we’ve been doing for a while. Out of all the races every year, this is the one we point to.”
Here’s how Burke handicaps his six hopefuls in the two Adios eliminations, which go as races eight and nine:
More Dragon (race eight, post three) — “He’s probably the weakest of the bunch. He’s good at qualifying for finals, but he’s a little overmatched when he makes the finals.”
Stolen Glimpse (race eight, post four) — “He’s the one with the most potential to get better. His first race on a half-mile track was very impressive. He has serious speed.”
Check Six (race eight, post six) — “He was a little dull about a month ago, but he’s super now. He was great in the Meadowlands Pace but had two awful trips.”
Manhattan Beach (race nine, post one) — “He’s been drawing the worst of any of my horses. From the inside, I look for him to be more aggressive. He should be tough to beat. Historically, Check Six has been the better horse, but Manhattan Beach is coming on.”
Big Top Hanover (race nine, post two) — “We’ve been racing him hard, so he skipped the Meadowlands Pace to prep for the Adios. He drew into the easier division, so I look for him to get into the final.”
Fernando Hanover (race nine, post three) — “He seems to be back to himself. He has more ability than he’s been able to show. This is a good spot for him. He can sit and make one move.”
The $400,00 Adios final is set for Saturday afternoon (July 30). The first four finishers in each elimination, plus the fifth-place finisher with higher career earnings, return for the final.
The Adios elimination card offers two strong supporting stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers, the Romola Hanover, a $159,360 Pennsylvania Sires Stake that features juvenile champion Pure Country, and a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event.
First post Saturday is 1 p.m., with the first Adios elimination set to go at approximately 3 p.m.
- Adios Week at the Meadows kicks off July 23 (Monday, July 18, 2016)
Adios Week, the annual extravaganza of world-class harness racing and family fun at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino that this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, kicks off Saturday afternoon (July 23) with Adios eliminations.
- Burke six-pack, Racing Hill head field for 50th Adios (Tuesday, July 19, 2016)
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.
- 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.
- Joe Gerrity Memorial, Zweig in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)
The Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga and the Zweig at Vernon Downs lead a busy weekend of Grand Circuit stakes racing.
- 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.