Abuckabett Hanover has been no stranger to outside posts this month, but Tony Alagna’s colt put those worries aside by winning his Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids elimination last week at The Meadows. Now, his trainer hopes he can capitalize.
The connections of elimination winners Abuckabett Hanover, Hellabalou and Water Sports Teen got to select their horse’s post position for Saturday’s (July 31) $375,000 Adios final for three-year-old pacers. Abuckabett Hanover will start from post three, Water Sports Teen from four, and Hellabalou from five.
Earlier this month, Abuckabett Hanover drew post eight in the finals of both the Messenger Stakes and Meadowlands Pace. Last week, in his Adios elim, he started from post seven. He won the elimination by 1-1/4 lengths over Natameri in 1:50.3.
Alagna also will send out Rockyroad Hanover, who was second to Water Sports Teen in his elimination. Rockyroad Hanover got post one in the open draw among non-elimination winners.
“Let’s hope they have a good go on Saturday,” said Alagna, who won the 2016 Adios with Racing Hill. “Abuckabett couldn’t draw bad because he won his elimination, so he made his own luck as far as that. Rockyroad had good luck drawing the rail. If they fire right back as good as they were in their eliminations, they’ll have a voice in the final, I think.”
Abuckabett Hanover won his first four races this season before finishing eighth in the Messenger final, fifth in his Meadowlands Pace elimination, and ninth-placed-eighth because of interference in the Pace final. This will be his sixth consecutive weekend of racing.
“It’s just kind of the way things worked out,” said Alagna, who trains Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line-All Tucked Up) for Crawford Farms Racing, Alagna Racing, Jablonsky Held Stable, and Barbera N Wienick Stable. “I think he could potentially be a stallion. To be a stallion, they’ve got to win major events, and that’s what we’re trying to do. He’s just had such bad luck.”
Rockyroad Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Romantic Moment) has won three of nine races this season for owners Riverview Racing, Brad Grant, Ken Jacobs, and Plouffe Head and VJ Stable. The colt finished a length behind 1:48.2 winner Water Sports Teen in his Adios elimination. Prior to the Adios, he was eighth-placed-seventh in the Meadowlands Pace.
“I thought he raced good; I didn’t think he was great,” Alagna said. “But I think part of it is the fact that when he got knocked out of the Meadowlands Pace, he didn’t actually get to go a whole mile. Sometimes those horses lose fitness. If they don’t get that fast work into them in between, they can come up a little short.
“This week will tell the tale. He’s in a good spot, he trained back great, his blood work and everything looks good, so he’s got every right to be OK. He’s a big, strong, horse; very imposing to look at. He can leave, he can come from off the pace, he’s very versatile that way. He can do it a lot of different ways.”
Water Sports Teen (Somebeachsomewhere-Posey Tina) was purchased by owner Joshua Graber on June 21 for $83,000 in an onGait.com auction. The colt has rewarded his new owner with three consecutive wins and is the 3-1 morning-line favourite Saturday for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno and driver Joe Bongiorno.
“The horse has been flawless since we got him,” Joe Bongiorno said. “If he comes with his game face on, I think he’s going to be really tough in there. He still had more left the way he felt at the wire last week.
“He’s got good gate speed, his manners are really good right now, and I’ll be able to race him however I want. That’s what I like in a horse. When a horse gets hot, it’s very hard for a driver to do their job. He’s really relaxed now, and I can rate him how I want. When I call on him, he’s always there for me.”
Hellabalou (Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip) won his Adios elimination by two lengths over Mysweetboymax in 1:49.1. Three weeks ago, he won his Meadowlands Pace elim at odds of 81-1 and followed up by finishing sixth-placed-fifth in the final.
Andy McCarthy drove Hellabalou last week but will stay with Abuckabett Hanover in the Adios final. Tim Tetrick will drive Hellabalou for trainer Eddie Dennis and owner Eric Good.
“He’s doing pretty good right now,” Dennis said. “He’s ready to go. As ready as I can hope. He trained good (Wednesday), we blew him out a trip so he’s sharp, and we’re just waiting to get behind the gate.
“I’m looking forward to it. Whoever wins, it’s going to be a little bit of racing luck. We just need a little luck, a little positioning, and it will be up to him from there. Him and Timmy.”
Racing begins at noon Saturday at The Meadows. The Adios is race 15 on the 16-race card, with an approximate post time of 4:40 p.m. (EDT). Free program pages from TrackMaster are available at the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association website.
Following is the field for the Adios.
1. Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna) 4
2. Lou’s Pearlman (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke) 4
3. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 5
4. Water Sports Teen (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno) 3
5. Hellabalou (Tim Tetrick, Eddie Dennis) 7
6. Mysweetboymax (David Miller, Sam DePinto) 20
7. Natameri (Mike Wilder, Howard Okusko Jr.) 20
8. Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears, Scott Cox) 20
9. Southwind Gendry (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Ron Burke) 8
(USTA)