Some drama taken out of Adios draw
MEADOW LANDS – The draw for post positions in the Delvin Miller Adios had less drama this year.
Under a new rule change, winners from the two eliminations last Saturday could pick their posts for Saturday’s $400,00 Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows Racetrack.
Racing Hill, the 8-5 morning line favorite and owned by Tom Hill of Lancashire, England, grabbed the No. 4 post and Manhattan Beach, one of five entries out of the Burke Racing Stables, took No. 3 opened with 3-1 odds.
Racing Hill got the pick ahead of Manhattan Beach after winning a drawing Monday evening.
“The new system guaranteed that one of my horses would get a good spot,” Ron Burke said Tuesday. “It made the eliminations more important. It gave you the incentive to win. When they picked 4, I didn’t want to be outside of them. If I had got to pick first, I would have taken 4. I don’t think they were worried about being outside of me. I don’t think 2 or 1 would have worked and I don’t like 5. You have to have a horse who can leave very fast and I do, so it doesn’t bother me picking the 3.”
The 50th edition of the Adios final is Race No. 12 Saturday and has an expected post time of 4 p.m.
Burke, the leading owner/trainer in harness racing this year with earnings of more than $9 million, said this is not the first time in Adios history that entries from the Burke stables dominated the race. In 2007, May June Character, with George Brennan in the sulky, gave Mickey Burke, Ron’s father, his lone victory in this most prestigious harness race.
“I know the one year we finished first, second, third, fifth and seventh, so we could have had five in the final,” Burke said. “I know we had four. We’ll try and replicate that. And the funny thing was that our best horse didn’t win that year. Our longshot did.”
Manhattan Beach and Check Six are the better chances for Burke. And Check Six got a little luck in the draw, pulling the No. 5 slot. Since 1992, 95 entries have started from the 5 and 38 have finished in the money, including 14 first-place finishes. No. 3 has only the sixth-best winning percentage in Adios finals.
“(Manhattan Beach) was just an average 2-year-old but he showed a lot of speed,” Burke said. “He got sore so we gave him time off. He got better every start at 3. He’s gotten no luck in draws in (other) finals so it was nice to guarantee him a good one in the finals.”
Burke, who had three entries each in the two eliminations, takes five into the final. His horses drew posts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9.
Dave Palone, the winningest harness racing driver in North America, was not immediately listed with an entry. But he is expected to be offered a drive after his elimination entry, Rip This Joint, failed to make the final. Palone has one Adios victory, coming in 1999 with Washington VC and trainer Ron Coyne Jr.
Racing Hill is coming off a win in the Hempt Memorial and a $250,000 payday July 2. He crossed in 1:49.0 with Brett Miller driving. The colt finished second in the finals of the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace and has earnings of $636,702.
“There is one standout and two or three other horses on the next tier,” said track announcer Roger Huston, who has called more than 1730,000 races in his illustrious career. “There are three real good 3-year-old pacers and one of them was not eligible and the other just won the Meadowlands Pace, Control The Moment. He would have been here if it would have been a dash for the cash. The second best is Racing Hill and he’s here. He’ll undoubtedly be the favorite when the race starts Saturday afternoon.”