by Anne Doolin, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA –– Hometown favorite Georgia Pacific didn’t disappoint in the first of three $50,500 eliminations for the 38th edition of the Coors Delvin Miller Adios for three-year-old pacing colts on Saturday at The Meadows.

He did more than just deliver -– he roared to a 1:50 Adios and track record (and equaled Gallo Blue Chip’s world record for a sophomore gelding colt on a five-eighths-mile track).

With Brian Sears aboard for trainer and co-owner Randy Bendis, the gelded son of Western Hanover took command early, yielded to Mypanmar, retook, then repulsed the challenge of Mypanmar again after the three-quarters, and had to hold off the late charge of both Driven To Win and Western Terror, who also advanced to the final.

“I think he’ll be fine in the final,” said Bendis. “He looked pretty well within himself -– as well as you can in a world record mile.”

This year, the Adios reverted to the old format where finalists earned their post positions, with elim winners drawing for posts one through three; second place finishers for posts four through six; and third place finishers saddled with posts seven, eight and nine.