The Meadows: Adios elims complete, Burke sends five to final

Twisted Destiny and Swingtown emerged with victories in the two $25,000 Delvin Miller Adios eliminations for 3-year-old male pacers on Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

In the first elimination Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy) worked two-wide past Papi's Rocket (Yannick Gingras) for the lead past the 26 4/5 quarter, and then Prince Hal Hanover yielded to Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn), who had been two-wide after floating out from post five, prior to the 54 second half-mile marker.

Rick Wink (Chris Page) made a first-over move out of fourth on the way to the 1:21 3/5 three-quarters, but he was rebuffed by Twisted Destiny on the final bend, and Prince Hal Hanover was only able to gain late at Twisted Destiny as well as he went on to tally by three-quarters of a length in 1:48. Rick Wink was third, followed by Papi's Rocket.

"Being on a helmet early on made that part a little easier on him," Dunn explained about Twisted Destiny's extended period on the outside before he got to the point. "He's been good all year and was quite impressive today."

A Bettor's Wish colt, Twisted Destiny is trained by Chris Ryder for co-owner/breeder Let It Ride Stables Inc. and their partners Alberg Racing LLC., Enviro Stables Ltd. and Jesmeral Stable. He has a summary of 10-2-0 from 14 career starts, has earned $249,914 and paid $7.80 to win.

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Fallout (Tim Tetrick) cut fractions of 26 2/5, 54 3/5 and 1:21 4/5 in the second elimination but was under pressure from first-over Papis Pistol (David Miller) on the last turn. Papis Pistol was tracked by Wedlock Blue Chip (Dunn), which shuffled back pocket-sitter Sippinonsearoc (Gingras) and Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who had been positioned in the three-hole.

Wrenn Jr. was able to fan Swingtown to the outside of Wedlock Blue Chip despite the shuffle, and Gingras also got Sippinonsearoc off the cones behind Papis Pistol before he went back to the inside in the lane, and it would be Swingtown and Sippinonsearoc who ultimately hit the wire together in a 1:50 1/5 mile.

The photo finish camera showed that Swingtown had tallied by a nose, with fellow Ron Burke trainees Sippinonsearoc and Railroad Station (Page) second and third. Wedlock Blue Chip and Makes Sense, who overcame an interference break past three-quarters, also advanced to the final.

Led by that sweep of the trifecta in the second elimination, all five of Burke's horses that he entered in this year's Adios - Rick Wink, Papi's Rocket, Swingtown, Sippinonsearoc and Railroad Station - moved on to next Saturday's Grade 1 final.

"I was gonna pull first-up, but Tim was still rolling along pretty good, and I figured I could squeeze out," Wrenn Jr. said about his trip. "When I was able to move, he responded and the plugs were still in."

Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC. own Swingtown, a colt by Downbytheseaside. The Steiner Stock Farm-bred has nine wins, two seconds and a pair of thirds from 17 trips behind the gate, has banked $547,234 and returned $18.80 to win.

Burke also won both Arden Downs divisions for 2-year-old male pacers that took place on the program, tallying with Melillo (by Sweet Lou and bred by owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Jason Melillo and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.) in 1:53 for driver Yannick Gingras and Watch Em Win (by He's Watching and bred by Best Bet Stables LLC.) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Tim Tetrick and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

"Both colts trained in the better sets this winter," Burke said about Melillo and Watch Em Win. "They do whatever you want, and they were bred for greatness."

--quotes courtesy of the MSOA--