Meadowlands Pace winner Beach Glass and North America Cup champion Pebble Beach, who have dominated harness racing's glamour division, will continue their battle for supremacy in the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
A pair of $25,000 eliminations go this Saturday, with the $350,000 final set for Saturday, July 30. The eliminations card also features the Romola Hanover, a $132,231 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, and a $60,000 PA Stallion Series event for sophomore filly pacers. On Adios Day, the Adios final anchors a blockbuster program that features six Grand Circuit stakes.
Pebble Beach downed Beach Glass by 2-3/4 lengths in the North America Cup to lift his lifetime bankroll to $931,750. However, the son of Downbytheseaside-Santa Rosa has been off since then, coming to the Adios off a July 9 qualifier. He's drawn post four in race nine for Todd McCarthy, trainer Noel Daley and owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres and Laexpressfoderadeovolente.
Beach Glass, who goes from post two in race eight for Yannick Gingras, captured the Meadowlands Pace final in an impressive 1:47.2. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Im With Her has banked $615,750 for trainer Brent MacGrath and owner Schooner II Stable.
Trainer Tony Alagna has four Adios contenders while Ron Burke, with two, is the only other trainer with multiple entrants.
The first four finishers in each elimination, along with the fifth-place finisher with the higher career earnings, return for the final.
Here are the Adios elimination fields in post position order, with drivers (before changes) and trainers:
Adios Elimination #1 - Race 8
1. Fourever Boy - Mike Wilder - Tim Twaddle
2. Beach Glass - Yannick Gingras - Brent MacGrath
3. I Did It Myway - Andrew McCarthy - Tony Alagna
4. River Ness - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
5. Nautical Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna
6. Ario Hanover - David Miller - Brian Brown
Adios Elimination #2 - Race 9
1. Atlas Hanover - Scott Zeron - Tony Alagna
2. Market Based - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter
3. Quick Snap - Dave Palone - Tony Alagna
4. Pebble Beach - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley
5. Bythemissal - Chris Page - Ron Burke
6. Dancin Sancho - Trevor Smith - Todd Luther
(With files from MSOA)