The Meadows: Burke trio takes aim at Saturday's $375,000 Adios Final

Trainer Ron Burke has three horses in Saturday's $375,000 Del Miller Adios at The Meadows, yet the sport's leading trainer is far from overconfident.

"There's Nancy's (Takter, Tall Dark Stranger, not entered) colt on one level and then a lot in the second wave," Burke said. "On any week any of these can step up and win."

With the absence of Papi Rob Hanover in Saturday’s lineup, Burke likely has as good a chance as any to take down the top prize, with The Greek Freak (post 4) likely to be taking the most betting action. "Everything that could go wrong for this horse last year, did," said Burke, reflecting on a freshman campaign that saw the Captaintreacherous-sired horse go winless in nine tries. "We gelded him towards the end of last year and it's definitely made a difference." On paper that difference plays out to a horse with four wins in five tries as a sophomore, including last week’s career-best 1:49 4/5 clocking in one of three Adios eliminations. "I think he's a horse that is just learning how to do it. I believe he'll be a better 4-year-old," Burke said, looking forward.

The undefeated 2-year-old Elver Hanover hasn’t found his footing yet this year for Burke, but the trainer is hopeful he has him going in the right direction. "He really wasn’t any good two starts back. Last week he put in a better mile so I think we have him going in the right direction," Burke said. "But from post nine it's going to be difficult."

Perhaps a sleeper of sorts would be Sweet Truth, a horse that doesn't appear to match up with his other two but has quickly emerged on Burke’s radar. "There was a point last year where we were ready to give up on him," said Burke, "He could only go around 1:54-1:55, that was it." The gelded son of Sweet Lou began to turn the corner some late last year, giving the stable some hope.

Last week Sweet Truth crossed the wire second in Papi Rob Hanover’s world-record setting 1:47 1/5 mile, a feat that would have been hard to contemplate anywhere from his 11 lifetime past performance lines. Driver Yannick Gingras actually kept him forwardly placed within three lengths of the winner during a vicious 1:20 3/5 three quarters clocking. Sweet Truth battled bravely for the place spot only to be disqualified for cutting inside the pylons during the first quarter of the contest. Individually timed in 1:49 1/5, Sweet Truth could be a sleeper ready to awaken.

The Adios goes as race 15 on The Meadows' stakes-filled Saturday afternoon program and trainer Tony Alagna has three of his own in the field that could make waves. Capt Midnight (post 2), Chief Mate (post 7) and Captain Barbossa (post 8) have all flashed speed at one point or another this year. Capt Midnight likely has the best chance of the three given the draw as well as a solid second in his elimination heat.

Catch The Fire won for the first time as a sophomore in last week’s Adios elimination, gamely holding off Capt Midnight in a 1:49 3/5 personal-best clocking. Mike Wilder drives him from post three for trainer John Ackley.

Trainer Nancy Takter's No Lou Zing has to be the most improved 3-year-old in North America and his performance in last week's Adios elimination was nothing short of sensational. An altered son of Sweet Lou, No Lou Zing was wide and parked before settling back through a 25 3/5 first quarter. Driver Josert Fonseca had him on the move before the half in an attempt to reach Papi Rob Hanover and No Lou Zing just kept digging the entire way. Now able to show speed and make a second move, No Lou Zing (post 5) is a serious Adios contender.

Burke is more than excited about Lou’s Pearlman, a homebred that looks for his fourth straight career win in the first of three $19,896 Gov. David Lawrence divisions for 2-year-old male pacers on Saturday’s program. "He's a homebred and he’s exactly what we expected him to be," said Burke of the product of two horses he raced in Sweet Lou and the dam, Lucys Pearl. Lou's Pearlman drew post two with Matt Kakaley driving. The colt has captured two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions, including one at The Meadows on July 22 in a career best 1:51 4/5 clocking.

In addition to the stakes action, handicappers get a huge treat in the form of a $23,311 Hi-5 carryover with a mandatory payout in the Adios. Post time is set at 11:25 AM for the 16-race extravaganza.