Son of Bettor’s Wish takes Delvin Miller Adios Pace division

Washington, PA – Hollywood Casino at The Meadows had the boys back in town Saturday afternoon (July 19) with two eliminations for next week’s Grade 1 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids presented by the Mickey Burke Family. Fifteen 3-year-old male pacers were vying for nine spots in the harness racing final, while the Roy Davis Arden Downs Stakes for 2-year-olds provided a glimpse into next year’s edition.

The last time The Meadows saw sophomore Twisted Destiny, it was a rain-soaked 1:49.1 effort in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on May 3. Saturday’s first $25,000 elimination of the Adios would be a sun-soaked 1:48 career best for the colt. Parked out most of the opening :54 half, the son of Bettor’s Wish was eventually able to settle on the lead with driver Dexter Dunn and used a :26.2 last panel to hold off Prince Hal Hanover and Todd McCarthy by a half-length. Rick Wink finished third and Papi’s Rocket was fourth to also advance to the Adios final.

“Being on a helmet early on made that part a little easier on him,” Dunn said about Twisted Destiny. “He’s been good all year, quite impressive today.”

Twisted Destiny, this year’s Grade 2 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes winner, is trained by recent Hall of Fame inductee Chris Ryder for owners Let It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing, Enviro Stables and Jesmeral Stable.

TWISTED DESTINY REPLAY

The second Adios elimination proved to be the most thrilling as a nose would separate the first- and second-place finishers. Sitting third with Swingtown through steady fractions, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. had a decision to make.

“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 with a grin afterward. “When I was able to move, he responded, and the plugs were still in.”

While Wrenn was able to squeeze out, Ron Burke-trained stablemate Sippinonsearoc and driver Yannick Gingras had to wait for traffic to clear before a rally left the pair a nose short in 1:50.1. Three-quarters of length back in third was Chris Page with Railroad Station, completing a Burke trifecta. Wedlock Blue Chip finished fourth and Makes Sense was fifth to grab the last spot in the Adios final (based on career earnings).

A son of Downbytheseaside, Swingtown was a $160,000 Ohio Selected Jug Sale purchase for owners Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and RAS Racing.

SWINGTOWN REPLAY

The field for the Grade 1 Adios in alphabetical order is Makes Sense, Papi’s Rocket, Prince Hal Hanover, Railroad Station, Rick Wink, Sippinonsearoc, Swingtown, Twisted Destiny and Wedlock Hanover. Burke has five of the finalists: Papi’s Rocket, Railroad Station, Rick Wink, Sippinonsearoc, and Swingtown.

Post positions for the final will be drawn Wednesday. The Adios Day card on Saturday, July 26, will have a first race post of 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

The $20,000 first division of the Roy Davis, named for the Hall of Famer and first local owner to win the Adios, saw freshman pacer Thai Hanover and regular pilot Jeremy Indof assume their normal front-end position following the quarter pole on their way to a comfortable :57.4 opening half.

The action would remain quiet until Yannick Gingras and Melillo would move past the three-quarter pole in what would end up being a three-horse sprint to the wire with Melillo’s :26 final quarter besting Thai Hanover’s :26.3 and McHungry and Mike Wilder’s :26.4 for the show spot. Bred and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo and Weaver Bruscemi, the 1:53 clocking was the first lifetime victory for the son of Sweet Lou.

The $20,217 second division saw another first-over Burke trainee winner, this one more impressive than dramatic. Watch Em Win sat patiently until approaching the final turn, and from there would engage the leader and then expand his lead through the stretch. The He’s Watching colt reeled off a :26.4 final quarter to secure the three-length, 1:52.3 first victory for owners Burke Racing, Knox Services, Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. Watch Em Win was a $35,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase for the connections.

When asked about the two winning performances, trainer Burke said, “Both colts trained in the better sets this winter, they do whatever you want, and they were bred for greatness.”

For the day, Anthony MacDonald led all drivers with three wins and Burke tallied four training wins. For the week Dave Palone’s 13 wins gave him top honors among drivers while Burke’s six wins were tops among trainers.

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will resume racing Wednesday, July 23, with first race post at 12:45 (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tyler Stillings for USTA