World Champion Sheer Desire, the fastest freshman of 2008, and Well Said, winner of the 2008 Breeders Crown
juvenile pace, head the list of eligibles for the 2009 Delvin Miller Adios this summer at the Meadows.
Following the February 15 payment, 150 three-year-old colts and geldings remain eligible for the 'Pace for the Orchids,' a nearly 55 per cent increase over last year’s pool of eligibles.
The 2008 Adios was staged at Pocono Downs due to racino construction at the Meadows. In addition to returning to its roots, the Adios is offering a significantly richer purse, estimated at $820,000, compared to the $450,000 that was typical in recent years. An infusion of cash from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association is funding the purse hike, as well as substantial purse increases for the Quinton L. Patterson Adioo Volo for three-year-old pacing fillies and other Grand Circuit events.
The Adios eliminations and final will be eight days apart -- an innovation introduced last year. David Wiegmann, acting general manager for the Meadows, said the scheduling change and the purse increase likely played a role in making the 2009 Adios especially attractive to horsemen.
“The Adios always has been a prestigious test for three-year-olds, but we must recognize that the competition for top racing talent is fierce,” he said. “These improvements have helped make our signature event more competitive than ever.”
Eliminations are set for Friday July 24, with the final to go Saturday, August 1. Among the high-profile eligibles are:
- Sheer Desire, who paced in 1:49.3 last year at the Red Mile, fastest mark ever for a two-year-old on a mile track. The Meadows-based Ron Burke trains Sheer Desire.
- Well Said, who earned $601,127 at two.
- Art Colony, a $157,000 yearling acquisition who won his first four starts and was second in the Governor’s Cup at Woodbine.
- Dial Or Nodial, who banked $429,740 at two and was named New Jersey Sire Stakes Horse of the Year.
- Panmunjom, the 2008 PA Sires Stakes divisional champion.
In Well Said, Art Colony and Dial Or Nodial, the Adios eligibles list features the 1-2-3 finishers in the 2008 Breeders Crown juvenile pace.
Trot Insider will update this note with the list of eligibles when it is made available.
(Meadows)