by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — 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.
But the road to those laurels has been demanding — five tough races against elite competition in a little more than six weeks. After a workload that heavy, will he be sharp in his Adios elimination? Trainer Tony Alagna says the son of Roll With Joe-Chasing Deals remains in top form.
“He’s come out of it in great shape, so we made the decision to take him to the Adios,” Alagna said.
Racing Hill is the 8-5 morning line favorite in race eight, the first of two Adios eliminations, with an approximate post time of 3 p.m. He goes from the rail with Brett Miller driving. The Adios final is set for Saturday afternoon (July 30). The first four finishers in each elimination, plus the fifth-place finisher with the better career earnings, return for the final.
Alagna noted that Racing Hill earned a bye into the Meadowlands Pace final, giving him a valuable week off.
“He came out of that race great,” Alagna said. “He ripped around the field with his tail over his back. That made the decision easier. He trains lightly between races, no kind of speed. He tells you what he wants as far as work goes. He carries his weight well, and he’s good to himself. All those things help.”
He said Tom Hill, owner of Racing Hill, gives him considerable leeway on the colt’s schedule.
“The Hills are very good that way,” he said. “They told me to make the decision based on what I saw.”
He indicated Racing Hill likely would have two weeks off following the Adios to freshen for his next engagement, the Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Alagna also sends American Passport into the Adios — he and Scott Zeron leave from post five in the second elimination, race nine. The son of American Ideal-Star Of The Show finished a strong second in a June 4 Somebeachsomewhere division at Mohawk but is winless in five outings this year and hasn’t raced since July 1.
“He’s had bad luck and needed to regroup,” Alagna said. “He qualified very good the other day. Based on what he did last year, I don’t think the Adios is a stretch for him at all.”
The Adios eliminations card offers two strong supporting stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers — the Romola Hanover, a $159,360 Pennsylvania Sires Stake, and a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.
Below are the fields for the Adios eliminations, with drivers, trainers and morning line:
Race 8
1. Racing Hill–Brett Miller–Tony Alagna–8/5
2. Western Fame–David Miller-Jimmy Takter–10/1
3. More Dragon–Tim Tetrick–Ron Burke–12/1
4. Stolen Glimpse–Matt Kakaley–Ron Burke–5/1
5. Lyons Snyder–Scott Zeron-Mark Silva–3/1
6. Check Six–Yannick Gingras–Ron Burke–5/2
Race 9
1. Manhattan Beach–Matt Kakaley–Ron Burke–2/1
2. Big Top Hanover–Yannick Gingras–Ron Burke–4/1
3. Fernando Hanover–Tim Tetrick–Ron Burke–5/1
4. Another Daily Copy–Tony Hall–Nicholas Devita–8/1
5. American Passport–Scott Zeron–Tony Alagna–7/2
6. Rip This Joint–Dave Palone–Mike Palone–10/1
- 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.
- 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.