If the old adage about horses for courses is true, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino might as well place the Delvin Miller Adios celebratory blanket of orchids right now on We Will See
. That’s because the son of Western Hanover-Aberdakara, owned by Shannon DePinto and Earl Smith, is undefeated in three Meadows starts, including victories last year in a Keystone Classic division and the Pennsylvania Stallion Series consolation and a win last week in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake.
Of course, We Will See’s trainer, Cosmo ‘Sam’ DePinto, knows that it won’t be that easy because the $700,000 Adios, which gets underway Saturday with three eliminations, has attracted a deep field of 22 three-year-olds. We Will See, 5-2 second choice in the morning line, leaves from the rail with Brett Miller in the first elimination (Race 9).
“They’re all tough, but there are a couple of real toughies — Rockin Image and Delmarvalous,” DePinto said. “Rockin Image has been coming around his last three or four starts, but he won’t run away from anybody. I think the race will go in 1:49 and change; we can go there quite well.”
The PA Stallion Series consolation may be an unusual place to find an Adios contender, but it fit We Will See’s development at the time. DePinto purchased We Will See as a yearling and couldn’t believe what a bargain he got.
“I was taking a break at Harrisburg, having a conversation, when his looks caught my eye,” he said. “I opened the catalogue and reviewed his pedigree. When I got him for $30,000, I thought it was a steal. I went back to look at him four or five times; I thought I must have missed something.”
Several weeks later, DePinto nearly lost his promising youngster to a bout of colic. When the colt recovered, DePinto soon discovered he had purchased what he later would describe as “the laziest horse I’ve ever trained.”
“He does exactly what he has to do and that’s it,” DePinto said. “You have to push him. On the other hand, he knows how to take care of himself. Through the year, he’s probably lost only 50 pounds.”
To keep the colt’s interest, DePinto jogs him on a straightaway at his base at New Jersey’s Showplace Farms that borders the woods. The prospect of seeing deer, fox, cats and rabbits keeps We Will See on his toes.
It would be unfair to dismiss We Will See as merely a horse for the course; his credentials are solid. With $536,151 on his card, he’s the leading money-winner in the Adios field — Rockin Image is next with $419,043. His distinguished resume includes a close-up second-place finish to Sportswriter in the final of the North America Cup and a strong third in the Rooney final.
Moreover, We Will See figures to be even better than he was in last week’s PASS triumph.
“He didn’t empty out before the race, and I think that was troubling him,” DePinto said. “I wasn’t real thrilled with the way he finished. He’ll be a little sharper this week.”
The colt trained two trips Thursday, and DePinto planned to jog him Friday before shipping to The Meadows. Both horse and trainer approach the Adios without any anxiety.
“This horse has taught me a lesson — never give up on one too early,” DePinto said. “He’s taught me patience, and it’s paid off.”
(The Meadows)