Bythemissal Springs 8-1 Upset in Adios Final

By Evan Pattak for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

WASHINGTON, PA, July 30, 2022--On paper, North America Cup winner Pebble Beach Glass and Meadowlands Pace champion Beach Glass looked many lengths better than the rest of the field in Saturday's $350,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. But Bythemissal reminded us forcefully that an elite test for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers is not contested on paper.

The Downbytheseaside-Dismissal gelding moved powerfully first over to defeat Beach Glass by 1-1/4 lengths and spring the 8-1 upset for Chris Page, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. It was the second straight Adios triumph for Good, who also owned last year's winner, Hellabalou.

Bythemissal had lost only once in his six-race career, but it was that 5-3/4-length pasting by Pebble Beach in last week's Adios eliminations that sent bettors looking elsewhere..Page indicated that race served as a sort of an introduction to top-level competition for Bythemissal.

"Last week was the prep race," said Page, in only his second Adios. "I was really confident in how he came out of the race and how he finished. Ronnie said he had a great week this week, so I just needed to make sure I kept him out of trouble. I got him in play a little bit but away from the 53.4 half."

River Ness, the winner's stablemate, was determined to make for a demanding quarter but broke stride before he could fully accomplish his goal. Nevertheless, Beach Glass was forced to a blistering 25.4 panel. Yet his half time of 53.4 was only a tick faster than last week's 54 in the slop, so it would be unfair to suggest that Bythemissal's win was fractions-aided. Rather, Burke said he saw signs of today's outcome in last week's strong finish.

"We wanted to race him a little more aggressively, but it didn't work out," Burke said. "But you don't make the move he made last week to finish second and not be good. You can't be three deep and make up ground against real good horses. Chris had him double wrapped up at the wire. Chris is never confident, and he was supremely confident with this horse.

"At the half today, I thought, if Chris can get wheeled up by the three-quarters, it'll be on. My horse has the will to win. You get him close, he's gonna get ya."

It's the second blanket of orchids for Burke, whose massive stable is based at The Meadows, as he also prevailed with Dorsoduro Hanover--still active and a double millionaire. He also was assistant trainer for his father Mickey when the elder Burke won the Adios with May June Character--the final win of that horse's career. Each win, Burke said, has felt differently.

"The one with my dad is still special," he said. "That was the one that knocked the door down for us. It's a hard race to win. But in the others, we were favorites. People we're calling this a two-horse race."

Burke said Bythemissal probably would aim for the Carl Milstein at MGM Northfield and likely will be supplemented to the Little Brown Jug.

SWEET KISSES PLANTS 34-1 SMOOCH ON ADIOO VOLO FIELD

By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

WASHINGTON, PA, July 30, 2022  — Trailing 1-5 favorite Captain Cowgirl by 3 lengths at the three-quarters and shoved wide for the drive, it figured that Sweet Kisses was looking at a check at best. Certainly her driver, Yannick Gingras, thought so.

“I was hoping for second at the top of the stretch,” Gingras said.

Yet Sweet Kisses found another gear and roared past Captain Cowgirl to pull off a 34-1 upset in the $102,355 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers, the companion feature to Saturday’s final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Pennsylvania’s reigning champion, Captain Cowgirl, won three of four Pennsylvania Sire Stake preliminary legs this season, typically facing stiffer competition than she encountered in the Adioo Volo. Sweet Kisses is no slouch, with a pair of PA Stallion Series wins to her credit this year. Yet Gingras was amazed at her late response.

“When we straightened, I saw Timmy (Tetrick aboard Captain Cowgirl) was chasing his pretty good, so I thought we had a shot,” he said. “She’s been getting better and better. Ronnie (Burke) told me to give her a shot — she’s ready.”

Sweet Kisses defeated Captain Cowgirl by a length in a career-best 1:50, with Galleria Hanover third. When Bythemissal captured the Pace for the Orchids, it gave Burke an Adios-Adioo Volo sweep. For his part, Gingras has won eight Adioo Volo contests, placing him in a tie for second with Brian Sears behind Dave Palone’s chart-topping 21.

Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Knox Services and Phillip Collura own Sweet Kisses, who now has banked $118,077.