Competitive field set for Adios eliminations at The Meadows
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A deep field of 23 top colts and gelding pacers are set for Saturday’s Delvin Miller Adios Pace For the Orchids eliminations at The Meadows.
The 55th edition again will have a total purse of $450,000 on the line.
The field will be split among three elimination races Saturday. Each are worth $25,000 and will go off as races 8, 9 and 10.
The first post for the eliminations is 12:45 p.m. while Adios Day begins at noon.
The top three finishers in each elimination race will come back next Saturday, July 31, for the Adios final worth $375,000.
The three elimination winners will earn the right to choose their post positions for the final.
Last year, Mike Wilder, a Meadows racing veteran, drove Catch the Fire to victory in the Adios final. He won the 2020 race in front of no spectators, except for a few invitees, because of covid restrictions.
On Saturday, Wilder is scheduled to steer Natameri, owned by Howard Okusko Jr., in the fourth position of the first elimination.
The day of racing also features a pair of stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers: a $148,332 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and an $80,000 PA Stallion Series event.
Trainers Tony Alagna, Ron Burke and Nancy Takter lead the way with four horses apiece in the Adios eliminations.
Brett Pelling, with two, is the only other trainer with multiple horses in the field.
Five of the 23 entrants competed in last Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace final. Southwind Gendry, driven by Yannick Gingras and trained by Burke, finished fourth but bumped up to third after a disqualification.
The horse, set to go off second from the rail in the first elimination, has a career earnings of $814,641.
Abuckabett Hanover, Hellabalou and Chase H Hanover also are considered top Adios contenders.
Abuckabett Hanover will run in the seventh spot, opposite Southwind Gendry, in the first elimination.
Chase H Hanover and Hellabalou are in the first and fifth positions for the second elimination.
Drivers in the elimination heat lists below are subject to change.
Elimination 1, Race 8
Horse, driver, trainer
1. South Beach Star, Todd McCarthy, Brett Pelling
2. Southwind Gendry, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke
3. Lancaster Bomber, George Brennan, Duane Marfisi
4. Natameri, Mike Wilder, Howard Okusko, Jr.
5. Carbine, Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna
6. Red Richt Hand, Todd McCarthy, Nancy Takter
7. Abuckabett Hanover, Andrew McCarthy, Alagna
Elimination 2, Race 9
1. Chase H Hanover, Brian Sears, Scott Cox
2. Exploit, Andrew McCarthy, Alagna
3. Emblaze Hanover, Joe Bongiorno, Burke
4. Mysweetboymax, David Miller, Sam DePinto
5. Hellabalou, Andrew McCarthy, Eddie Dennis
6. Dean B Hanover, Todd McCarthy, Pelling
7. One Eight Hundred, Tim Tetrick, Takter
8. Billy Clyde, Mark MacDonald, Ray Schnittker
Elimination 3, Race 10
1. Lou’s Pearlman, Gingras, Burke
2. Literl Lad Hanover, Miller, Burke
3. Water Sports Teen, Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno
4. Curbside Pickup, Tetrick, Bill MacKenzie
5. Rockyroad Hanover, Dunn, Alagna
6. Bayfield Beach, Miller, Takter
7. Gamblin Mo, Tyler Buter, John Butenschoen
8. Always A Miki, Dunn, Takter