by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Trainer Ron Burke swept both divisions of Saturday’s (Aug. 1) $125,000 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers with Storm Point and Sassa Hanover. The Grand Circuit stake was part of the Adios Day card at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Chris Gooden photo

Storm Point was a 1:50.2 winner for Dave Palone in their Adioo Volo division.

Black Horse Racing’s Storm Point launched a relentless first-over move from fourth for Dave Palone. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Limestone Cowgirl wore down the leader, Bettor Be Steppin, and defeated her by a half-length in a career-best 1:50.2, a national season’s mark. Bedroomconfessions rallied for show.

Sassa Hanover made the lead with a quarter-pole move and held off Better Said, downing her by a length in 1:50.4. Southwind Roulette, also from the Burke stable, earned show.

“When she’s good, she’s good from anywhere,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “She hasn’t been on her game for a little while. Her blood wasn’t right — everything was messed up. But it seemed like she was back today. She can race any which way when she’s good.”

Burke Racing Stable, The Panhellenic Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Larry Karr campaign Sassa Hanover, who soared over $600,000 in lifetime earnings.

In other Adios Day Grand Circuit action:

$65,142 James Manderino—3-year-old colt and gelding trotters

Jacksons Minion, a Hambletonian eligible, made it three straight wins in grand style, rolling to a front-end win in 1:53.1. That knocked a tick from Lady’s Dude’s track record for sophomore geldings and erased the stakes mark of 1:54.1 jointly held by SJ’s Caviar and Wheelsandthelegman. Chef Lee was second, 1-1/4 lengths back, with Shoot The Thrill third.

“I didn’t know he’d go in 1:53, but I thought he could go 1:54-plus anyway,” said trainer/driver Tom Jackson, who owns the son of Explosive Matter-Armbro Espionage with Howard Taylor and Judith Taylor. “That’s about all he had at the wire, but I didn’t give him his head until halfway through the last turn.”

In the other Manderino split, Suit And Tie looked much the best on paper — he was hammered down to 1-9 — and he looked just as sharp on the track, notching a front-end victory in 1:56. Only The Brave closed well for second, a length in arrears, while the pocket-sitting Simeon earned show.

Corey Callahan piloted the son of Andover Hall-Warrawee Krisp — a Hambletonian eligible — for owners William Wiswell and M And L of Delaware.

“He wasn’t quite himself when he raced here last week,” said Tyler Butenschoen, assistant to winning trainer John Butenschoen. “He had a good week training, and he raced like he was supposed to. We added some cups, and we went to aluminum shoes up front. He’s eligible to the Townsend Ackerman as well as the Hambletonian, so it’s the owners’ call.”

$65,000 Ned McCarr—3-year-old filly trotters

Sky Hanover meandered to the front from the gate, but she was strong enough on the lead to hold off Meadowbanch Wendy by a nose in 1:56.2. Pad Princess completed the ticket.

“I took my time getting there, made sure she behaved herself,” said winning driver Andy Miller. “After that, it was a matter of keeping her attention. She’s made breaks of and on, but she’s been pretty honest lately.”

Julie Miller trains Sky Hanover for Little E LLC, Westminster Road LLC and Banyan Farms.

$71,170 Governor Lawrence—2-year-old colt and gelding pacers

Ideal Jimmy, bet down to 3-5 despite making breaks in his previous two starts, stormed home in :54.3 from second over to catch Big Top Hanover and Whata Twist in 1:53.2 in the first division. The altered son of Western Ideal–Armbro Nectarine, who had recovered with sub-:28 quarters after his recent pair of errors, continued that streak of late speed with a :27.4 kicker in winning for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Robin Cruise, and owner D.R. Van Witzenberger.

“They’ve been working hard on him — I think he had a little soundness thing,” Miller said. “It got in his head, where he would look for a way out. He still threw in a couple steps, but he worked through it. I was happy to make it through the first turn.”

Second-over tactics also proved successful for the Somebeachsomewhere–Mouse Hanover colt Mr Right Hanover, who scored his first victory in 1:54 after circling to the lead approaching the head of the stretch. Tim Tetrick handled sulky duties for trainer Brian Brown and owners James Stambaugh, Wingfield Brothers, Alan Keith and Milton Leeman.

A clocking of 1:53.3 may be only an “average” time for these freshman colts, but 1:24/:55.4/:27.4 back numbers are impressive, and that’s what the quarter-moving Check Six stormed home in to take his third win in five starts. Another Somebeachsomewhere out of the mare Southwind Vanna, Check Six followed up two straight sire stakes wins with this Grand Circuit triumph for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke yet again, and Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, William Switala and James Martin.

$80,000 Mary Lib Miller—2-year-old filly pacers

Yankee Moonshine inherited the lead when early leader Graceful Vision made a miscue, then threw back fractions of :55–:27.2 in defeating Corona Again to take the first division in 1:53.4, a personal best. The daughter of Yankee Cruiser–Bootleg Yankee, bred by Hall of Fame nominee Charles Keller III, broke her maiden in style for Gingras, Burke and owners Burke Racing, JT45, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr.

Another getting her first victory was the McArdle-Smokin Pistol filly Shesasmokinlady, who set the pace, then withstood a stern Lightning Lane challenge by Hug A Dragoness to earn a 1:53 triumph by a head. Tony Hall kept the filly game nearing the wire to bring success to trainer Kelly Paver and owner Iris Horowitz.

And as if Ron Burke wasn’t winning enough races, he almost found a way to get two wins in one race; his fillies Danika P and Eloquent Grace were separated by inches at the end of another division, with the Yankee Cruiser–Danika Hanover miss Danika P getting the nod in 1:56.1. The winner stepped home in :27.2 for driver Matt Kakaley and the Burke Racing/Weaver Bruscemi/M1 Stables combine.

Blue Moon Stride was in full stride during :55.3–:27.2 back fractions in catching Lyons River Pride to capture the final Mary Lib division while taking a mark of 1:53. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover–Classic Star showed an impressive turn of late foot in running her record to three for four for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Mark Harder and owners Emilio and Maria Rosati.