Hello Adios, Freshmen Harmonizing

It was always a post-Hambletonian feature but now the race for the orchids by glamour-boy soph pacers comes to us shortly after the Meadowlands Pace and before the August trotting classic. It’s the Adios Pace, a classic, still presented at its founding track, the Meadows, and still featuring great horses and a history of great wagering opportunities.  

The whole week at the Meadows offers terrific wagering as the Grand Circuit stops and presents fierce competition in the fresh-frosh categories. This is a big week that harness fans should be ready to engage with a full TwinSpires account load.

At Yonkers Raceway the Lawrence Sheppard Final brings pacing youngsters to the forefront, along with frosh-colt trotters in New York Sires Stakes action and more greenies [sic] go in Tompkins-Geers events at Tioga Downs. 

Elders pace through the fire of the season, too. Mohawk features the Maple Leaf Trot and mare pacers in the Roses Are Red, two finals with tight fields and guaranteed overlays. 

Also on July 14, Hambo-hopefuls clash in Tompkins-Geers and Canadian Breeders Championships to further convince connections if they are prepared to drop into the box for the Hambo elims. For an analysis of those events, go to our exclusive Hambletonian Trail. The result stories (and archived reports of all the eligibles performances in stakes since May) are at the Hambletonian Society.  

Adios Amigos

 
Eighteen of harness racing’s top soph-colt pacers—including North America Cup-winner Thinking Out Loud, Meadowlands Pace champion A Rocknroll Dance and Sweet Lou—compete in July 21’s eliminations for the $600,000 Delvin Miller Adios at the Meadows.

The powerful fields fill two divisions of nine. The four top finishers in each division return Saturday, July 28, for the final. 

The first division features the two colts that won the two top stakes for their kind this season: Thinking Out Loud in post 9 and A Rocknroll Dance in post 8. Meadowlands Pace Consolation-winner Hurrikane Kingcole, whose mile was 1:47.3, goes from post 7. Sweet Lou leaves from post 4 in this mighty first elim. 

Trainers Ron Burke (Sweet Lou, Breakin The Law) and Bob McIntosh (Thinking Out Loud, Dapper Dude) have two Adios hopefuls apiece while Brittany Farms is part owner of four Adios participants, necessitating a wagering entry in each elim. In Race 4, Escape The News and One Through Ten are coupled while All Star Legend and Bettor’s Edge are paired as a Race 6 entry. 

The elimination fields with post positions, head numbers and tentative driver assignments are as follows:

First Elimination, Race 4  

Post Position Head Number Horse Driver

1 1 Escape The News David Miller

2 2 EZ Noah Dave Palone

3 3 Special Forces Dave Palone

4 4 Sweet Lou Dave Palone

5 5 Bakin On The Beach Jim Morrill, Jr.

6 1A One Through Ten Jim Morrill, Jr.

7 6 Hurrikane Kingcole Daniel Dube

8 7 A Rocknroll Dance Yannick Gingras

9 8 Thinking Out Loud Randy Waples

Second Elimination, Race 6

1 2 Bolt The Duer Mark McDonald

2 3 Star Recruit Mike Wilder

3 4 McAttaboy David Miller

4 1 All Star Legend Jim Morrill, Jr.

5 5 Breakin The Law Dave Palone

6 6 Ezpass Hanover Brian Zendt

7 7 Hillbilly Hanover Ron Pierce

8 8 Dapper Dude John Campbell

9 1A Bettor’s Edge Jim Morrill, Jr.  

There are many scenarios to choose from in division one but remember that the addition of Hurrikane Kingcole changes the complexion of the field. He didn’t get into the Meadowlands Pace final but was all over the mile in the consolation and may be ready to take that speed to another level here. Don’t be surprised if a speed duel does not surface and they are all chasing “Kingcole” to a remarkable world-record victory.  

Division two could find Allstar Legend in a great spot to upset. He was third in the “Pace,” launching a speedy start from post 10 that was sustained well considering the field. That could have been a flare for the kind of speed he can use late here if he tucks behind Bolt The Duer, who will try to steal this but is coming off a disappointing Pace performance.  

Sheppard’s Flock

The Lawrence Sheppard Pace, long a Yonkers Raceway feature for two-year-old colts returned to the grounds last Saturday night after a nine-year hiatus. A trio of $25,000 eliminations with six contestants each led into this Saturday’s final, worth $119,000.  

Doctor Butch was the fastest elim winner with a 1:55.2 mile. However, the Linda Toscano colt got the 8 hole for the final. Scalped and OK Fame won the other elims, in 1:56.1 and 1:56.3, respectively.  

Morning-line favoritism went to Rocnrolwilneverdie, who, as the 3-5 choice while losing to Scalped a week ago, ending up third. The son of Rocknroll Hanover is trained by Chris Ryder.  

The field for the final is 1-Dealmaker; 2-Rocnrolwilneverdie; 3-A Bettor World; 4-Scalped; 5-Americasgottalent; 6-OK Fame; 7-Hail the Taxi; 8-Doctor Butch. 

We like Scalped again, especially with Doctor Butch on the outside.  

Launching Careers

At Yonkers on Friday, a sextet of NYSS events, each worth $48,016, could include the 2013 Hambo champ. But first things first; let’s look at who has a shot to win each of these with some bargain win prices.

Division 1: From the first crop of Crazed, who was second to Deweycheatumnhowe in the Hambo, comes Tirade Hanover. He opened eyes in NYSS competition two back, winning in 1:57. Then he broke in his next race but everyone is hot on him. We think Explosive Action is on a course to improve and will offer a decent price as a foe who can beat “Tirade” even if that one doesn’t break.

Division 2: If Brookroaddonnie’s qualifiers at Monticello mean anything, he can be used against the obvious choice here, Theraputic. Monticello’s a half mile, so disregard slow winning times, and add Cat Manzi at the reins and this one may have some trot.

Division 3: Sand Time’s failure at Buffalo can be dismissed; his effort at Vernon may be the reliable evidence for a victory here. Malabar Man-son Columbia Lion will get loads of dough with George Brennan up, so go with Parker and Sand Time for the buck.

Division 4: Fashion Blizzard is the obvious choice but Jimmy Takter has Order By Keeper coming from the wood and his Meadowlands win deserves attention. His morning line of 4-1 may broadcast a major overlay here.

Division 5: Wannacmyguns was fabulous trying to maintain the lead wide at Buffalo last out and gets the post advantage over the probable public choice, Creditora, who leaves with trainer Trond Smedshammer from post 7.

Division 6: Noble Flight broke and recovered at Buffalo last week, racing well enough to get third. This is his second time out after two qualifiers in Canada and he has every right to improve with a win at second crack.   

Grand Circuiting

Tompkins-Geers Stakes are staples for two- and three-year-olds during the Grand Circuit season and are once again at Tioga Downs. The freshmen go on July 20.  

In the first filly division for youngsters, keep an eye on odds for Simpletwistoffate. She could break her maiden here against the obvious favorite, Shebestingin, who has not seen a loss in a pair of starts.  

Colts are up next in Race 6. It is the single division, worth $71,266, a bunch for the little guys. Joe Holloway’s Don’t Ya Know comes into this as Joe’s barn continues aflame with talent. With first-time starters, oddly enough pacers from the Ackerman barn, Joe’s steed could offer value winning bigger than most expect.

Race 8 brings on more fillies and a possible upset looms from Cool Their Jets. We expect a catbird-seat ride that can easily overcome the obvious choice, Mcarma, who is bound to shoot out for the lead and try to take the field wire to wire.  

Canadian Traffic

In the $750,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older horses at Mohawk, Daylon Magician and Chapter Seven will take a lot of the betting cash. But Winning Mister looks to rebound after a disappointing effort in the Titan Cup. As long as he doesn’t use himself up early, he’ll be strong and could upset. 

Also watch Windsong Geant. Coming off a strong victory from post 10 in a Preferred mile here, this classy trotter will look for redemption after a failed effort as Canada’s electorate for the Elitoppet. 

Older mares are on tap in the $391,000 Roses Are Red Final. Royal Cee Cee N draws a great post to carve a pocket trip. In the elimination, she paced a first-over mile, settling for fourth. Making it a better trip could mean a win this week. 

Premiering this week for Saturdays is the TwinSpires-Meadowlands zero-takeout Late Pick 4 Saturday.

Ray Cotolo contributed to this edition.