The Meadows: Burke six-pack faces Racing Hill in Adios elims

Muscling up for the signature race at his home track, trainer Ron Burke has entered six horses in the $450,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, where they’ll clash with Racing Hill, runner-up in both the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace—each a $1 million stake.

They head a field of 12 for the Adios, which this year marks the 50th edition of the prestigious pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings that Delvin Miller founded and named for his foundation sire.

Two eliminations, each with a purse of $25,000, are set for Saturday afternoon, July 23, while the $400,000 final goes Saturday afternoon, July 30. The eliminations are scheduled as races 8 and 9, with an estimated post time of 3 PM for race 8.

The most formidable of the Burke six-pack may be Check Six, who finished third in the Meadowlands Pace final and has banked $576,442 in his career. He’ll leave from post 6 in race 8. Burke also sends out Big Top Hanover, Fernando Hanover, Manhattan Beach, More Dragon and Stolen Glimpse. Yannick Gingras is listed as driver for all six Burke horses, so most of those assignments remain to be finalized.

Racing Hill was beaten only a nose by Control The Moment in the Meadowlands Pace, timed in 1:48 2/5. Trained by Tony Alagna, the son of Roll With Joe-Chasing Ideals captured the final of the $500,000 Max Hempt and has earned $757,528 lifetime. He goes from the rail in race 8.

Alagna, the only trainer besides Burke with multiple Adios entrants, also will be represented by American Passport, who finished second in the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk but has neither won this year nor raced since July 1. He’ll leave from post 5 in race 9 for Scott Zeron.

The fields for Saturday’s Adios eliminations, in post position order:

Race 8

1. Racing Hill
2. Western Fame
3. More Dragon
4. Stolen Glimpse
5. Lyons Snyder
6. Check Six

Race 9

1. Manhattan Beach
2. Big Top Hanover
3. Fernando Hanover
4. Another Daily Copy
5. American Passport
6. Rip This Joint

--edited release (The Meadows)