Jul 16, 2025 5 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

While Louprint is not available for The Adios, five of his stablemates will push to give The Burke Stable a legitimate shot at winning the 59th version of the 3-year-old harness racing showcase.

Fifteen horses are entered in the race, which begins Saturday, with two $25,000 elimination divisions, an eight-horse field and a seven-horse field.

Burke officially ruled Louprint, who had emergency surgery last week, out of The Adios. He said the horse is recovering and might return near the middle of next month.

The top four finishers in each division and the fifth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will compete in the Grade 1, $385,000 Adios final Saturday, Aug. 26.

The eliminations will be races nine and 10 on Saturday’s card. Post time is 12:45 p.m.

Burke’s brigade includes Sippinonsearoc, Swingtown, Papi’s Rocket, Railroad Station and the intriguing Rick Wink, who to this point has raced almost exclusively in Ohio and is the lone competitor to be supplemented to The Adios.

That supplement makes The Adios purse $385,000.

Rick Wink has won four straight and has 12 lifetime victories. He has twice qualified at The Meadows. He defeated Sippinonsearoc last weekend and twice met Louprint in the qualifiers.

The Adios will be a significant step up.

Rick Wink, which has the rail in the first elimination race, will be driven by Chris Page.

His opponents, from the rail out, include Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy-Dr. Ian Moore), Doncic (Dave Palone-Brian Brown), Lite Up The World (James Macdonald-Anthony Beaton), Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn-Chris Ryder), Knockout Round (Dave Palone-Tony Alagna) and Papi’s Rocket (Yannick Gingras-Burke).

The second elimination, from the rail out, includes Wedlock Blue Chip (David Miller-Roland Mallar), Railroad Station (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Burke), Papis Pistol (Miller-Sam DePinto), Makes Sense (Palone, Tim Tetrick or Miller-Robert Cleary), Sippinonsearoc (Yannick Gingras-Burke), Swingtown (Wrenn Jr.-Burke), Fallout (Tetrick-Alagna) and Glowing Lou (Jordan Stratton-Cory Stratton).

Two of the likely favorites are Prince Hal Hanover, who won last week’s Meadowlands Pace only to be disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed second, and Twisted Destiny.

“Having the rail gives (Rick Wink) a great chance,” Burke said. “It’s a tough division. I think that’s a little bit tougher division.

“My other two with the best chance, Sippinonsearoc and Swingtown, are together in the second division, which is going to be a good race. They’re all going to have to race hard to make the finals.”

Prince Hal Hanover, trained by Dr. Ian Moore, is looking for redemption in the Grade 1 Adios. Meanwhile, Twisted Destiny is trained by Chris Ryder and owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Alberg Racing LLC and Enviro Stables LTD.

Ryder said Twisted Destiny has done what has been asked of him this season.

“I’m happy with him,” Ryder added. “Obviously, we wouldn’t be coming if we weren’t.

“He is not a flashy horse. He just seems to get the job done. You know, he finds the speed when he needs it. I’m pretty happy with him and he’s won four out of five this year.”

His top win this season was in the Grade 2 Messenger Stakes, a leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, in late June.

Madden Oaks, not eligible for The Adios, was declared the winner of Saturday’s $656,000 Grade 1 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds at The Meadowlands after Prince Hal Hanover was disqualified and placed second for interference against Madden Oaks in the stretch. Papis Pistol was third.

In Saturday’s race, Prince Hal Hanover grabbed the lead 26 seconds to the opening quarter as Madden Oaks, who started from post nine in the nine-horse field, applied pressure on the outside. Madden Oaks got the lead, but Prince Hal Hanover, the 9-5 favorite, moved again and retook the top spot in a :54.1 half.

Prince Hal Hanover held the lead at three-quarters in 1:21.3, fighting off a first-over bid from Captain Optimistic. As they came down the stretch, Prince Hal Hanover pulled away as Madden Oaks moved to the inside. The two battled through the lane, with Prince Hal Hanover ruled to have interfered with Madden Oaks nearing the finish line.

“We took the horse back to Ontario the day after the race,” Moore said. “He’s been in good form all the last month. He had a tough circumstance in the North American Cup and then obviously another bad circumstance last weekend as well.”

Down the Stretch

This Saturday’s card will feature two divisions of the Roy Davis Pace, a Grand Circuit stake for two-year-old pacing colts that often provides a preview of the following year’s Adios.

The Meadows said post time for the July 26 Adios final card has been moved to 11:30 a.m. The Adios final will be race 15 on the card with a post time of about 4:45 p.m.