by Anne Doolin, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Last year, Meadows-based trainer Mickey Burke had a year for the record books — he was voted Trainer of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association after his trainees won 450 races, the most of any trainer in North America and over 100 more than his nearest competitor. He was second in North America by earnings at $5,696,654 — his horses earned just $10,000 less than those trained by Erv Miller.

He came into the 40th edition of the Adios loaded for bear last year, with five entered, just as he does this year. Things looked great after the eliminations — he won two of the three (with True North Hanover and Sandro Hanover) while Texas Shootout missed winning his by a whisker.

The 2006 final didn’t go as scripted. Erv Miller’s trainee, 20-1 shot Cactus Creek, pulled off an upset, and Burke’s trainees finished fourth, fifth and sixth. It was the day after his 70th birthday, no less.

But he’s not daunted, and he’s back with another quintet for the 41st edition — which this year, falls squarely on his birthday. Some — like recent purchase Watta Hotshot — look to be real contenders, while others will have a tougher time of it. But the Adios is known for its surprises.

“(This year) is that kind of Adios. It’s always going to come up interesting,” Burke said. “Last year, we had two wins and a second — we were supposed to win the final, and the best we could do was fourth. Hell yes, I was disappointed, but I’m a big boy. You never know what is going to happen.”

The Coors Delvin Miller Adios, with a total purse of $420,125, will be contested on Saturday, August 11. The Meadows will present a double-header card, with post time at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. The Adios, along with the Adioo Volo and Arden Downs events for 2-year-old pacing colts, will be on the afternoon card. The Adios eliminations go as races 10 and 11, with the top four in each returning for the 15th race final.

Watta Hotshot had a solid effort in his division of the Holmes last Saturday, finishing second behind Southwind Lynx.

“We paid six figures for him about a week ago,” said Burke. “If you saw him race in the Holmes, you’d see why we did. He was absolutely running over horses with his neck bowed. If he gets loose, he wins in 1:48. He’s the real deal.”

Even though he is winless thus far this season, he’s banked $213,710 while racing in stakes company all over North America. In addition to his second-place finish in the Holmes, he was third in both the elim and final of the North America Cup at Mohawk.

There will be a large local cheering section for the gelding on Saturday. Randy Ringer of Washingon, Pa., who is co-owner of Texas Shootout, is one of the new ownership group on Watta Hotshot. Mark Weaver from Canonsburg and Mike Bruscemi make up Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The duo are partners on several horses with Kevin Koury of JJK Stables, who along with Burke’s wife Sylvia, make up the rest of the new ownership group.

Watta Hotshot is the 5-2 choice in the second of two eliminations from post four with Dave Palone to drive.

“I expect all five of mine to make the final this year,” said Burke. “Drawing the rail will help Pan Giovanni; Won The West has a good shot, and has been very consistent; TJ’s Ideal raced real big the other night; and May June Character, if he minds his p’s and q’s, he’s one fast son of a gun. Don’t be surprised to see him flying by all of them.

“The dream finish is a five-way dead heat for win in the final, with all five of mine in it,” he laughed. “Second best is to finish one through five.”

Burke was a top hunter/jumper rider in his younger days, riding at venues such as Madison Square Garden and the Royal Winter Fair. “I cleared 7’ 1” when the world record was 7’ 10”,” he said. “I was fox-hunting until I was 50, when I had my knees replaced the first time. All your contact riding is with your knees, and mine were like bowling balls after I had them replaced. I was so desperate to ride, I even bought a stock saddle and tried trail riding, but your contact is the same there too. It just didn’t work. My riding days were over.

“Thank God for these Standardbreds,” he said. “I just can’t picture my life without horses in it.”