Dorsoduro Hanover captures Delvin Miller Adios
July 28, 2018,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Victimized by brutal trips in his last two starts, Dorsoduro Hanover finally got the journey he needed and pounced on the opportunity to win Saturday’s (July 28)$400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids in 1:50.1 at The Meadows. American History, who won an elimination of the 52nd edition of the Adios, raced well first over to finish second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while Hitman Hill, the other elimination winner, could not improve position in the Lightning Lane and settled for show.
Chris Gooden photo
Dorsoduro Hanover capitalized on a good trip to win the 52nd edition of the Adios.
Dorsoduro Hanover gave The Meadows-based trainer Ron Burke, perennially the sport’s leading conditioner, his first blanket of Adios orchids as the head of his stable, although he was assistant for his father, Mickey, when their horse, May June Character, won the 2007 Adios.
A Somebeachsomewhere-Deer Valley Miss gelding who cost $100,000 as a yearling, Dorsoduro Hanover was roughed up from post 10 in the Meadowlands Pace final and again in is Adios elimination but still managed to finish second each time. It seemed likely that he was only a good trip away from a signature victory . . . and Matt Kakaley provided it for him giving him a :28.3 second-panel refresher after a :26.3 opening-quarter burst to the lead.
“We got a big breather there in the second quarter,” Kakaley said. “I knew he would be tough off that . . . if he didn’t win with that trip, something was wrong. I’m happy for the horse. He’s showing everybody that he’s a top colt.”
American History took up the chase before the half and pursued the winner gamely but was all out late to preserve his place finish.
“He raced phenomenal. I couldn’t be more happy with how he raced,” said his trainer, Tony Alagna. “We knew Matt had the fractions his way, but even around the last turn, we had a shot to win the whole thing. He hung tough to be second.”
Once Dorsoduro Hanover crossed the wire, a jubilant Burke and members of his staff sprinted from the paddock to the winners’ circle, eschewing the golf cart that customarily provides transport. Burke, however, indicated the wins in 2007 and 2018 were equally important to him.
“We have a big crew, and to me, that’s what it’s about: doing it together,” Burke said. “We probably spent about $10 million chasing this, and we finally got one. It’s a great feeling to enjoy it with our staff and our core group.”
In that core group are the owners of Dorsoduro Hanover, who now has earned $575,803 for them: Burke Racing Stable; Silva, Purnell & Libby; Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Wingfield Five.
Burke said Dorsoduro Hanover will be pointed to the Carl Milstein at Northfield.
ADIOS NOTES: Burke entered 26 horses on the 16-race Adios Day card, not a record for him but still a heckuva lot better than average. Burke had seven wins on the day. Kakaley got four wins for him, Yannick Gingras added two more and Dave Palone had one. For the second straight year, James Witherite – who also works as a race analyst, race charter, copy editor and jazz organist – found time to entertain the crowd as Adios Day bugler.
- Hitman Hill, American History choose posts three and four for $400,000 Adios final (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)
Hitman Hill will leave from post three and American History from post four in Saturday’s $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows. As winners of Adios eliminations, the connections of that pair earned the right to select their post positions for the final, with Hitman Hill choosing first after winning a draw. All other post positions in the nine-horse field were chosen by random draw Tuesday.
- Grand Circuit to Meadows, Meadowlands this weekend (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)
The Delvin Miller Adios final and Hambletonian Oaks eliminations lead a busy Grand Circuit weekend.
- Trio aims for memorable Adios (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)
Dorsoduro Hanover is looking for his first open stakes win. Ron Burke and Matt Kakaley are looking for their first Adios win. Together they can achieve those accomplishments Saturday. After finishing second by a nose to Hitman Hill in his elimination, Dorsoduro Hanover will start from post No. 5 in Saturday’s $400,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids for 3-year-olds at The Meadows. Kakaley will drive the pacer for trainer/co-owner Burke, who lives a short distance from the western Pennsylvania oval.
- Alagna aims for second Adios orchids blanket in three years (Thursday, July 26, 2018)
Trainer Tony Alagna has a shot to win his second blanket of Adios orchids in three years — two shots, actually — as he’ll send out both American History (above) and Babes Dig Me in Saturday’s $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows.
- Calmer Youaremycandygirl romps in $121K Adioo Volo (Saturday, July 28, 2018)
Youaremycandygirl, the 2017 Dan Patch Award winner for freshman pacing fillies, has been fine at three but not as dominant as she was last year. Trainer Ron Burke thought her problem might lie in post parades. Thus, in Saturday’s $121,000 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo at The Meadows, Burke experimented, leaving Youaremycandygirl in the hands of the marshal while the other fillies were parading. The strategy worked like a charm, as Youaremycandygirl jogged to a facile 1:50.4 victory in the Adioo Volo. Chris Gooden photo.
- Adios Day at The Meadows-Grand Circuit wrap up (Sunday, July 29, 2018)
Saturday’s (July 28) card at The Meadows, which featured the $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids and the $121,000 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo, also offered four additional Grand Circuit stakes.