Washington, PA — Pacers, trotters, fillies and colts — Saturday’s (July 26) stakes-filled card provided something for all harness racing fans leading up to The Meadows’ marquee race of the year, the Grade 1 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, presented by the Mickey Burke family.
Named for the wife of The Meadows’ founder, the Mary Lib Miller stakes featured a pair of small but talented fields of 2-year-old pacing fillies. In the first division, Tim Tetrick waited for the dust to settle before moving Lyons I Wanna Chip to the lead on their way to a 1:53.2 victory in the day’s opening race.
Tetrick said of the Stay Hungry filly, “She’s learning every week and the plugs were in finishing.”
Purchased at Harrisburg for $23,000 by Threelyonsracing, Lyons I Wanna Chip is trained by Jim King Jr.
“He earned that,” was Tetrick’s reaction following the 1:53.2 effort of Art In Heaven to capture the first division of Stallion Series action for 2-year-old colts. Trained by Nick DeVita for David Hamm and Glenn Phillips, the son of Captain Crunch tilled past the three-quarters before being put in play first-up by Tetrick on the way to a two-length victory. Art In Heaven was purchased at the Goshen Yearling Sale for $21,000.
For seven-eighths of a mile, it looked as if the second stallion Series event for 2-year-old colt pacers would be another Tetrick victory, but Another C Note and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took full advantage of the passing lane to get the lifetime best 1:53.1 victory.
“He was on the right line late, so the passing lane arrived just in time to feed him in there,” Wrenn explained afterwards
Trained by Ron Burke, the Captaintreacherous filly is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Scoot Dillon and Let It Ride Stables.
“Wanted to show her versatility,“ was Wrenn’s description of Loua Dipa’s performance in the final Mary Lib Miller stake. Sitting a loose fifth past the half, the Ron Burke trainee ended up six lengths the best in a dazzling 1:52.3 effort. It was her second win in four lifetime starts for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
While long shot stablemate Bell Hall was up front taking on all comers, Brady Brown was “looking for the shortest route” with his 45-1 long shot Livin It Up in the James Manderino for 3-year-old male trotters. Wilbur Yoder, who finished second, trains the Bar Hopping gelding for owner James Hess.
Burke, Wrenn dominate with trio of wins on Road to Adios
Wrenn and Burke made it back-to-back victories on the day with a pocket winner in the Dwane Parker 3-year-old filly trot.
The race, named for the longtime Meadows trainer, saw Can It Be Magic pick up her third win in five starts for her new connections of Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services. The Cantab filly trotted the mile in 1:55.1.
In the second Stallion Series division, seven 2-year-old colts lined up behind the gate with each looking for their first lifetime victory. After a sprint down the lane, Generationalwealth was able to hold off Southwind Spencer to get his initial victory. Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Howard Taylor for trainer Ron Burke, the son of Tall Dark Stranger gave the Burke/Wrenn connection their third win in a row.
Following his fifth trip to the winner’s circle on the day, Wrenn quipped, “Those are two really nice colts; glad mine was able to last.”
“He impressed me,” is what Matt Kakaley thought of Superchamp Hanover’s 1:51 effort in the $69,983 Tyler B 2-year-old colt stakes. After positioning himself on the helmet of the even money favorite, Kakaley popped the son of Sweet Lou out of the pocket at the head off the stretch and wear down Melillo for his second win in a row for trainer Travis Alexander and co-owner Fiddler’s Creek Stables.