Huntsville gets post four, Fear The Dragon post three for $400,000 Adios final
July 25, 2017,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Huntsville, the 9-5 morning line favorite, will leave from post four while Fear The Dragon, the 2-1 second choice, goes from post three in Saturday’s $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows.
The powerhouse Adios Day card begins at noon and includes six Grand Circuit stakes. The Adios goes as race 11 with an approximate post time of 4 p.m.
By winning last week’s Adios eliminations, the connections of Huntsville and Fear The Dragon earned the right to select their post positions; a drawing Monday gave Fear The Dragon the first choice. All other slots were determined by a random draw.
Trainer Brian Brown, who characterized Fear The Dragon’s performance last week as “dull,” said Monday he expects a return to form this week.
“We’ve been turning him out a lot,” Brown said. “I took him to the field today, and he was anything but dull. I think he’ll be sharper this week. A sign of a good horse is that he wins when he’s supposed to win, so I was happy that he won and toughed it out. But it still worries the heck out of you. He’s never raced like that.”
Trainer Ron Burke, who sends three into the final, drew posts one (RJP), five (Eddard Hanover) and seven (Miso Fast).
The complete Adios field in post position order with drivers, trainers and morning line odds:
1. RJP-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-9/2
2. Highalator-Victor Kirby-Jeffrey Long-20/1
3. Fear The Dragon-David Miller-Brian Brown-2/1
4. Huntsville-Tim Tetrick-Ray Schnittker-9/5
5. Eddard Hanover-TBA-Ron Burke-20/1
6. Western Hill-Dave Palone-Tony Alagna-8/1
7. Miso Fast-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-15/1
8. Blood Line-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter-12/1
9. Hurricane Beach-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais-15/1
- Huntsville, Fear The Dragon win Adios elims despite tough trips (Saturday, July 22, 2017)
Huntsville and Fear The Dragon had to work much harder in the slop than overwhelming favorites would like, yet each was game enough Saturday (July 22) to capture an elimination of the 51st edition of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows.
- Trogdon on Fear The Dragon: “It’s been quite a thrill with him” (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)
When a teenage Bruce Trogdon first began attending the Adios more than four decades ago, he never imagined he would someday own a horse in the race. On Saturday, he will. But even if it never happened, the Adios would always be special to him. That’s because 41 years ago, Trogdon got engaged to his wife Sabrina there. “All this, it’s a pretty neat situation,” said Trogdon, who will return Saturday to The Meadows with Sabrina for the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids and watch Fear The Dragon — the No. 1-ranked horse in harness racing’s weekly poll — compete in the $400,000 race for 3-year-old pacers. “We’re looking forward to it.”
- Takter under the radar with Adios hopeful Blood Line (Thursday, July 27, 2017)
As a Hall of Fame, high-profile trainer, it’s hard for Jimmy Takter to fly under the radar. Yet that’s exactly what he’s done with Blood Line, who’ll compete in Saturday’s $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows. Blood Line goes from post eight, with Mark MacDonald at the helm.
- Fear The Dragon outduels Huntsville to win the 51st Adios at The Meadows (Saturday, July 29, 2017)
Fear The Dragon, harness racing’s top-rated horse, cemented that position Saturday (July 29) at The Meadows when he wore down the sport’s No. 2-ranked horse, Huntsville, with a prolonged, dramatic first-over move that brought him victory in the $400,000 final of the 51st Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids.