Nineteen of harness racing’s top three-year-old colt and gelding pacers have been entered to contest the eliminations for the 49th edition of the $525,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Presented by Coors Light.
The eliminations will take place this Saturday evening (July 25) at The Meadows.
The top three finishers from each elimination will gain entrance to the final, which will be contested on the afternoon of Saturday, August 1, which will also feature a $50,000 Adios Consolation. Post positions for the final will be determined by an open draw.
Among the likely favourites in the eliminations are Dudes The Man, who finished second in the final of the Meadowlands Pace at 38-1; National Seelster, a star of New York Sire Stakes, where he was won four straight; and Lost For Words, a winner of three consecutive Pennsylvania Sires Stakes legs.
The Meadows-based Ron Burke, harness racing’s perennial leading trainer, will be represented by four horses in the Adios, while trainers Tony Alagna, Brian Brown and John Butenschoen have two apiece.
The eliminations have been carded as Race 4, Race 5 and Race 6, where they will be part of a Pick 4 with a total-pool guarantee of $7,500 offered in association with the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Initiative.
Saturday’s card also features three other stakes: the $200,000 PASS (est.) for three-year-old filly pacers; the $60,000 PA Stallion Series for three-year-old filly pacers; the $200,000 (est.) PASS for freshman colt and gelding pacers.
Of the 15 races on Saturday’s program, 13 are stakes events.
First post for the card is 6:55 p.m.
The Adios eliminations fields, in post position order with drivers (before changes) appears below.
Race 4
(Post – Horse – Listed Driver)
1 – Chaching Hanover – Dick Stillings
2 – Angelo J Fra – Tony Hall
3 – National Seelster – Tim Tetrick
4 – Dreams Beachboy – Tim Tetrick
5 – Rufo – Yannick Gingras
6 – Dragon Eddy – Corey Callahan
Race 5
(Post – Horse – Listed Driver)
1 – Lost For Words – David Miller
2 – Badiou Hanover – Andy Miller
3 – Tomy Terror – Corey Callahan
4 – Rock N Roll World – Kelly Stackowicz
5 – Cooperstown – Yannick Gingras
6 – Dudes The Man – Corey Callahan
Race 6
(Post – Horse – Listed Driver)
1 – Berkley – David Miller
2 – Yankee Bounty – Yannick Gingras
3 – Utah Beach – Tim Tetrick
4 – Trading Up – Tim Tetrick
5 – Jo Pas Well Said – Tim Tetrick
6 – My Hero Ron – Yannick Gingras
7 – Rise Up Now – Tim Tetrick
(The Meadows)