Action in the three-year-old pacing filly division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes will shift to the Meadows on Monday (June 11), where trainer Ron Burke will send out a quality quartet that already has combined for nearly $800,000 in career earnings.
The $159,838 stakes event, known as the Adios Betty, will feature two divisions (Races 8 and 9). The card will kick off with a 1:05 p.m. first-race post time.
All four of Burke’s fillies competed in the May 27 PASS opening leg at Harrah’s Philadelphia. While none was a winner, they look formidable in Monday’s alignments. A snapshot of each of the fillies, including comments from Burke, appear below.
Double A Mint (Race 8, Post 1, Matt Kakaley)
The daughter of Bettors Delight-Double Creme, a $95,000 yearling acquisition, finished fourth to Rainbow Room in last year’s PASS championship and took her 1:52.4 mark in a Keystone Classic split. In her opener, she endured a brutal :26.2 opening panel and finished a good second. She races for Burke Racing Stable; Dandy Farms, Silva, Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi, LLC.
“She kind of fell off at the end of last year, but came back strong — probably the sharpest of them all. She comes from a really good family; it was her pedigree more than anything else that attracted us.”
Strong Opinion (Race 8, Post 3, Dave Palone)
Campaigned by Burke Racing Stable; Jack Piatt II; Silva, Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi, Strong Opinion finished second last year in both the Matron Stakes and a Three Diamonds elimination. At Harrah’s Philadelphia, the daughter of Well Said-Rough Sketch backed through the field and finished more than 21 lengths behind the winner, but she had a valid excuse.
“She was good her first couple efforts this year, but her last start was a debacle. She choked, so it was back to the drawing board. We made some bridle and overcheck changes, and I look for her to return to form. I would think we would be a little more cautious leaving and go from there.”
Sansovina Hanover (Race 9, Post 5, Aaron Merriman)
A $70,000 yearling purchase, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Shacked Up won a Bluegrass division last year for Burke Racing Stable; Silver, Purnel & Libby, Michelle Yanek and Weaver Bruscemi. At Harrah’s Philadelphia, she closed from mid-pack to be third.
“We thought she was the best of our fillies, but she’s underachieved a little bit. We’re maybe a little disappointed with her. But she’s trending upward, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.
Majorsspeciallady (Race 9, Post 6, Matt Kakaley)
She earned $331,888 at two, a big chunk of it in the Breeders Crown final where she outperformed her 52-1 odds and finished second to her stablemate and Dan Patch Award winner Youaremycandygirl. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and J&T Silva Stables put up $35,000 for the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-See Major as a yearling.
“We had let her hopples out, and she struggled in the turns last week. So I tightened them back up. Look for her to be steered more aggressively this week. She’ll probably be a lot better.”
Stakes racing at the Meadows will continue Tuesday with an $80,000 PA Stallion Series event for sophomore filly pacers. First post is 1:05 PM.
(Meadows)