Burke qualifies five horses into the Adios
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
No Louprint. No problem.
Trainer Ron Burke qualified five horses Saturday afternoon to race in the Grade 1 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids next Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.
Burke-trained Swingtown rallied to capture the second elimination while Twisted Destiny won the first elimination.
Other qualifiers for The Adios are: Sippinonsearoc, Railroad Station, Rock Wink and Papi’s Rocket — all Burke horses – and Wedlock Blue Chip, Makes Sense, who was driven by Dave Palone, Prince Hal Hanover.
Post positions for the final will be drawn Wednesday. The connections of both winners will choose their post positions for the finals Wednesday. The Adios Day card will have a post of 11:30 a.m.
The Adios final will be race 15, with a post time of around 4:45 p.m.
Louprint, the recognized top 3-year-old in the country this year, had emergency surgery two weeks ago and is out until next month.
Swingtown rallied for his win in the second elimination, capturing Wrenn’s first Adios elimination victory in 1:50.1. He is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown, Hatfield Stables, Columbus, OH, Knox Services, Mt. Vernon, OH, and RAS Racing, Powell, OH, returned $18.80, $6.80 and $5.60.
Sippinonsearoc was second, Railroad Station was third, Wedlock Blue Chip was fourth and Makes Sense was fifth. Because Make Sense had higher lifetime earnings that Doncic, the fifth-place finisher in the first elimination, he qualified as the ninth horse in the final.
Swingtown was a $160,000 Ohio Selected Jug Sale purchase.
“I was going to pull first-up, but Tim (Tetrick with pacesetter Fallout) was still rolling along pretty good, and I figured I could squeeze out,” Wrenn said. “When I was able to move, he responded, and the plugs were still in.”
In addition to advancing five horses to The Adios final, two of Burke’s 2-year-old pacers – Melillo and Watch Em Win – captured divisions of the “Roy Davis” Arden Downs Colt & Gelding Pace.
“I didn’t see the second elimination unfolding like that,” Burke said. “It was kind of strange. I didn’t think Fallout would go to the top and then he just. . . ‘that’s all I’m done.’ Everybody was waiting for him to takeoff.
“I was really pleased with Swingtown. He showed he’s a versatile horse and I thought Railroad Station had sneaky pace.”
As for his pair of 2-year-old winners?
“Those are both top colts and they got spots where they got the chance to show it,” Burke said. “It’s like basically what I told all my friends and my owners, that they were going to do something special today.
“(Watch Em Win) is a cool little horse he will do anything you ask. So, he’s probably one of my favorite babies. I don’t know if he’s the best one.
Both colts trained in the better sets this winter, they do whatever you want, and they were bred for greatness. They give us hope for next year.”
Dunn, the top driver in the world, earned his first win in an Adios elimination race, guiding Twisted Destiny (Bettors Wish-Tug River Princess) to victory in 1:48. After watching Prince Hal Hanover set the pace in 26.4 in the first quarter, Twisted Destiny assumed control.
He paced 54.0 to the half on the 5/8-mile track and 1:21.3 to three quarters. Twisted Destiny, owned by Let It Ride Stables, FL, Aberg Racing, NJ, Enviro Stable, FL, and Jesmeral Stable, NY, returned $7.80, $3.40 and $2.60.
Prince Hal Hanover was second, Rick Wink third and Papi’s Rocket fourth.
“Being on a helmet early on made that part a little easier on him,” Dunn said. “He’s been good all year, quite impressive today.”
Chris Ryder, Twisted Destiny’s trainer, is confident and optimistic with the horse who has won six of seven races this season and three straight and 10 of 14 lifetime.
“He’s certainly making a case with his performance at this point,” Ryde said of Twisted Destiny. I know Louprint is not there. Even after he won the Messenger, I told the owner I still think he’s got more there.”
Down the Stretch
The field and post positions for the Grade 3 Quinton Patterson AdiooVolo – the sister race of the Adios – will be announced Wednesday. The race will be one of the features on The Adios day card.
N The Adios will be broadcast nationally on FOX from 3-6 p.m. Saturday. The broadcast will be hosted by Gabe Pruitt and Emily Gaskin at the North Strabane Township track.
NOTE: The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association contributed to this story.