Keeping Racing Hill pays dividends for owner of Adios favorite
When the 50th Delvin Miller Adios Pace goes off in Race 12 today, the favorite in this $400,000 event was nearly someone else’s horse two years ago.
Racing Hill, purchased by Tom Hill of the United Kingdom at a yearling sale in Harrisburg for $22,000, didn’t blossom until becoming a 2-year-old pacer. Some thought was given to selling the horse but the idea was eventually scrapped.
Now, Racing Hill leads a group of nine horses in the Pace for the Orchids at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino and is one of two horses in the Adios from Hill’s stable.
“They made the decision to keep him and train him because he didn’t bring enough money and he’s been great,” said trainer Tony Alagna, who also has American Passport off from the No. 6 post. “He’s had a great year this year and we’re really happy how the season has gone as a 3-year-old.”
Racing Hill overcame some sickness issues, Alagna said, before hitting his stride in the fall.
“He had 10 races, then we put him away like we usually do with 2-year-olds,” Alagna said. “He came back really good at 3.”
Racing Hill won five of those 10 races and seven in 17 starts this year. His total winnings over the past two years is more than $757,000.
If bloodlines mean anything, Check Six has a good chance to knock off the favorite.
His sire is Somebeachsomewhere, who finished second in the Meadowlands Pace and won the North America Cup in 2008. One of Somebeachsomewhere’s foals was Captaintreacherous, who was named the Pacing Colt of the Year as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old.
Check Six has won half his 18 starts over the past two years and has earnings close to $600,000.
“With Manhattan Beach at the 3 post and Check Six at the 5, those are probably my two best chances,” said Ron Burke, who has five entries. “We’ve gone over all the scenarios for the race – and I think it’s going to be a crazy race – it will be left wide open.”
Check Six will have Yannick Gingras in the sulky. Gingras is second on the money list this year with just over $5 million.
Post time for the Adios is 4 p.m. and is the highlight of the 17-race card. Race 1 goes off at noon. … Hill has a strong entry, Caprice Hill, in tonight’s Meadowlands Pace in New Jersey. … The Adio Volo, a pace for 3-year-old fillies, is Race 9.