by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Millionaire Well Said, fresh off his impressive victory in the Meadowlands Pace, heads a field of 26 3-year-old colts and geldings who will “pace for the orchids” in the $827,665 Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows. The three eliminations will go as races 9-11 Friday, July 24, with the top three from each advancing to the $677,665 final Saturday, Aug. 1.

With his wins in the Meadowlands Pace and the North America Cup, Well said already has banked $1,798,808 in his 18-race career, and he’ll be sent forward Friday by connections rich with Adios titles. Jeff Snyder, who owns Well Said with Lothlorien Stables, already boasts three Adios victories as an owner (Cam’s Card Shark, 1994; Million Dollar Cam, 2002; Village Jolt, 2005) while trainer Steve Elliott conditioned Riverboat King, winner of the 2000 Adios. Well Said drew post five in the second elim.

Other notable Adios contenders include Vintage Master, runner-up to Well Said in the Meadowlands Pace, and Keep It Real, a respectable third to Well Said in the North America Cup final.

Trainer George Teague, Jr. dropped in five Adios hopefuls (Built To Drive, Bunkmeister, Chasin Racin, Johnny Z, Mr Wiggles); should all five start, Teague would tie the unofficial record for most entries in an Adios established by the Burke stable in 2007. Bulletproof Enterprises entered four (If I Can Dream, Straight Shooting, Vertical Horizon, Schoolkids) while trainers Ron Burke, Tracy Brainard and Tony Alagna also have multiple contenders.

This year’s Adios purse is the richest in the 43-year history of the event. The Aug. 1 card also will feature a $50,000 Adios consolation, the $225,000 Quinton Patterson for 3-year-old pacing fillies, the $100,000 Gov. Lawrence for freshman colt pacers, and the inaugural $100,000 Catherine Baker Knoll for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Post time for both Adios cards is 12:15 p.m.

Here are the eliminations, in post position order, with listed driver and trainer.

Race 9–$50,000 First Elimination
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Roadway–Richard Stillings–Jim Ferguson
2–If I Can Dream–George Brennan–Tracy Brainard
3–Born To Rockn Roll–Dave Palone–Ron Burke
4–Vertigo Hanover–Yannick Gingras–Duane Marfisi
5–Ideal Danny–Yannick Gingras–Tony Alagna
6–El Cucuy–Mike Wilder–Dana Mock
7–Chasin Racin–David Miller–George Teague, Jr.
8–Clear Vision–Brett Miller–Steven Bryden
9–Vertical Horizon–David Miller–Bjorn Noren

Race 10–$50,000 Second Elimination
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Panmunjom–Brett Miller–Tony Alagna
2–Schoolkids–Dave Palone–Tracy Brainard
3–Doubleshotascotch–Eric Ledford–Kevin McDermott
4–Built To Drive–Randy Tharps–George Teague, Jr.
5–Well Said–Ron Pierce–Steve Elliott
6–Upfront Hoosierboy–Eric Ledford–Kelly O’Donnell
7–Keep It Real–Brian Sears–Joey Shea
8–Mobile–Dave Palone–Ron Burke
9–Johnny Z–Tim Tetrick–George Teague, Jr.

Race 11–$50,000 Third Elimination
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1–Precious Medal–Dave Palone–Tony Alagna
2–Mr Wiggles–Corey Callahan–George Teague, Jr.
3–Vintage Master–Daniel Dube–Jimmy Takter
4–Rusty’s All In–Tim Tetrick–Steve LeBlanc
5–Sheer Desire–Dave Palone–Ron Burke
6–Straight Shooting–Tim Tetrick–Tracy Brainard
7–Fireintheshark–Jason Bartlett–Jim Campbell
8–Bunkmeister–Andrew McCarthy–George Teague, Jr.