Year after year, Ron Burke stood hopeful along the fence of The Meadows racetrack for the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids.
He trained favorites and long shots, had single and multiple entries, but every time the final result was the same. He and his legion of followers bowed their heads ever more slightly and walked back through the casino disappointed.
This year, there was no sad walk back to the paddock. No head-shaking or wondering if this would be the year. This time, it was.
For the first time, a Burke-trained horse won The Adios as the favorite. Dorsoduro Hanover led wire-to-wire to defeat American History by a length-and-a-quarter in a time of 1:50.1 to win the 52nd running of the Pace for the Orchids.
“We spent a whole lot of time chasing this, but we’ve been close before and it’s not like we’re not having success, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Burke said. “Finally, we got to the half [-mile point in the race] and said if we don’t win it from here, we don’t deserve to.”
Driver Matt Kakaley also won the Adios for the first time, entering the race with a plan to get his sulky out in front and set the pace throughout.
“I thought I had the best horse in the race and I wanted to dictate the fractions the best I could and do that from the front,” Kakaley said. “He deserved it and he got the job done.”
Dorsoduro Hanover had just enough in the tank to hold off American History and Hitman Hill, both of which made runs on the outside after the first half-mile. When the three hit the stretch, American History was creeping up and had cut a comfortable lead into a precarious one, but Kakaley got enough out of his horse to keep both at bay and give Burke his long-awaited win.
“Down the backstretch, I felt them coming,” Kakaley said. “We didn’t go a really big third quarter and my horse was still great going into the last turn, and I was pretty confident at that point.”
So was Burke, but the Fredericktown trainer wasn’t about to let on.
“All I could think was I know my horse and I know our fractions … and from here I know that if he gets beat, I’m really going to be disappointed in him,” Burke said. “He’s not, he’s a good horse, he’s about to be a great horse and he’s just a step below great and it’s a long year yet.”
Immediately after Dorsoduro Hanover crossed the finish line, it seemed like every one of those people who walked through the stands disappointed over the years flooded from the stands and headed for the track to celebrate. Approximately 200 people gathered around as the trophy was presented and posed for photos with the winning horse, driver and trainer afterward.
“The best part was I knew it was coming,” Burke said. “I’ve seen the outpouring when they were leaving upset and, really, our guys are great, win or lose.”
First Published: July 29, 2018, 2:35 a.m.