by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Lonewolf Currier and Sunfire Blue Chip captured Saturday’s $50,000 eliminations for the Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows and will lead a field of eight into the $500,000 final on Saturday (July 27).

Also qualifying were Word Power, Some Kinda Beach, Evenin Of Pleasure, Ultimate Beachboy, Vegas Vacation and Beach Memories.

The draw for the final takes place Tuesday (July 23) at 12:30 p.m. and will be carried on Meadows Live! First post Adios Day is 12:20 p.m.

Lonewolf Currier was away fourth but brushed quickly to the front with a quarter-pole move for John Campbell. But his evening’s work was far from done.

First, he had to withstand a first-over bid from Sunshine Beach, who eventually broke stride nearing the final turn. Next challenge was the Lightning Lane charge of Ultimate Beachboy, the recent acquisition of the Ron Burke stable. The son of The Panderosa-Ladyking was up to the task, scoring in a swift 1:48.4 to defeat Ultimate Beachboy by a head, with Vegas Vacation third.

“I had to use him a number of times, but he responded very well,” Campbell said of the $110,000 yearling purchase. “He got a little tired at the wire, but he had a right to. I’m very impressed with him. He shows some miles where, if you didn’t use him, he would kick home very strong. But it looked like if you took him back here, you would never get in the race. I wanted to give him a good opportunity to get qualified.”

Kevin McDermott, who conditions Lonewolf Currier, said he never doubted his colt’s talent and versatility, even when he finished out of the money in three straight races — tough stakes, all — in late June and early July.

“I’m absolutely pumped,” McDermott said. “He raced awesome. He proved what a good horse he is. We were fighting sickness going into the Meadowlands Pace, but he was a different horse last week (when he won at Harrah’s Philadelphia). I asked John to give him a chance, and it worked out great.”

Lonewolf Currier’s win gives the final a local flavor, as he’s owned by prominent southwestern Pennsylvania businessman and philanthropist Fran Azur. For Campbell, it was the 25th victory in an Adios elimination or final, more than twice as many as the runner-up, Ron Pierce.

Sunfire Blue Chip, leaving from post seven for Dave Palone, was looped from the gate by Some Kinda Beach but persevered until clearing. That, Palone said, was part of the plan.

“That was kind of by strategy,” Palone said. “I wanted to hold my position and not let both outside horses get around me. I had a lot of confidence in him, and the front was the place to be tonight.”

The son of American Ideal-Shot Togo Bluechip had just enough to fend off Word Power, who endured a horrible trip and never saw the cones, by a nose. The hard-used Some Kinda Beach earned show.

“Wherever he draws in the final should be fine,” Palone said, “unless he draws outside all the speed and you’re forced to surrender too far back. He’s a pretty impressive horse to drive. He gives you a good try.”

Jimmy Takter trains Sunfire Blue Chip, a $75,000 yearling acquisition, for Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical AB and RAW Equine Inc.

Gallie Bythe Beach remains unbeaten after PASS victory

Saturday’s Delvin Miller Adios eliminations card at The Meadows also featured three stakes — worth more than $550,000 combined — for young fillies trying to establish their credentials and earn points in Pennsylvania-sired events. None of the youngsters was more persuasive than Gallie Bythe Beach, who remained unbeaten despite the most miserable trip of her four-race career.

Her challenge came in a PA Sires Stake for freshman filly pacers known as the Sand Tart, where she hunted early position for John Campbell but had to settle in sixth. She was out early, yet still trailing by 7-1/2 lengths at the half. She turned on the juice around the far turn and held off the late charge of Also Encouraging to defeat her by a nose in 1:53.3. Southwind Silence was third.

“She’s pretty special,” said Jim Campbell, who trains the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria for Fashion Farms. “She’s a well-built filly with a real nice gait to her, no wasted motion. She has a couple weeks off now. She’s staked right up through the rest of the year, but we’ll take it a race at a time.”

In another Sand Tart split, Beach Body raced aggressively for Jim Morrill, Jr., refusing to turn Hunger Games and Dave Palone loose at the three-eighths. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Silky rolled on to a comfortable victory in a career-best 1:53.1, 2-1/2 lengths better than Very Loudly, with Tyra third.

“I was getting everything so cheap that I knew I just had to go on a little bit to get Dave in behind me,” Morrill said. “She’s a big strong filly, and I didn’t see any reason to stop her. She did all the work tonight and lived to tell about it. She obviously has some guts.”

Chris Oakes trains Beach Body for Purple Haze Stables and Conrad Zurich.

Talkative captured the other Sand Tart division.

Romola Hanover, 3-Year-Old Filly Pacers

Charisma Hanover was sharp on the front end for Palone, capturing her third PASS split this year in 1:51.1, a lifetime mark. Ron Burke trains the daughter of Dragon Again-Caught The Bouquet, who boasts career earnings exceeding $261,000, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

“She was shut down and came home in :27.1. How many times can you say that?” Palone said. “She’s one of the best fillies I’ve ever driven. She’s so versatile, and she gives you such a good try.”

Palone and Burke also teamed for a Romola Hanover victory with Carols Desire, who made up three lengths in a Lightning Lane charge to triumph in 1:51.1. Novascotia Hanover was second, a half-length back, while Handsoffmycupcake earned show.

Since adding Lasix four back, the daughter of Real Desire-Carolache has three wins and a place for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Randy Ringer and Phillip Collura.

“I thought I might get some room because we hadn’t done much racing, and I was behind the fillies I wanted to follow,” Palone said. “I knew I had two handfuls; it was just a matter of getting some room.”

Native Dream also notched a Romola Hanover win.

PA Stallion Series, 3-Year-Old Filly Pacers

Hobe Sound found herself seventh down the backside with excessive cover before her. But the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Animated Art was fast and wide in the lane, triumphing in 1:53.2 for Corey Callahan and shedding 2.1 seconds from her lifetime mark. American Ginger was second, a neck behind, with Beautiful Artist third.

“I was following live cover, and I was happy with where I was,” Callahan said. “I was just letting her do what she wanted, playing it by ear.”

Linda Toscano trains Hobe Sound for Stake Your Claim Stable, Radio Racing Stable, Little E Inc. and Daniel Baer.

Icommandmyspirit and Juice Hanover also collected stallion series wins.