by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Dude’s The Man, who finished a fast-closing third in his elimination, has been installed as the 5-2 early favorite and will leave from post two with Corey Callahan in Saturday’s (Aug. 1) $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Presented by Coors Light at The Meadows.

The elimination winners — Cooperstown, My Hero Ron and National Seelster — drew posts four, seven and nine, respectively.

First post Adios Day is 12:20 p.m., with the Adios set for approximately 4 p.m. The powerhouse card also features five other Grand Circuit stakes, the $50,000 Adios consolation, and the $50,000 Roy D. Davis Memorial for 4-year-old pacers.

Ron Burke will send out three Adios finalists — My Hero Ron, Yankee Bounty (post one) and Cooperstown, a 37-1 bomb in his elimination. Although Burke is North America’s perennial leading conditioner, he has not captured an Adios title as head trainer. He was assistant to his father Mickey when the stable’s May June Character won in 2007.

“Overall, I’m happy with it,” Burke said of the draw. “I’ll basically have one on the front, one in the middle and one from the back. One of those three should work out a trip and give me a chance.”

My Hero Ron was perhaps the most impressive of the elimination winners, powering to the lead early and controlling the mile without a serious challenge. The son of Well Said-Erma La Em also is fresh, with only seven starts this year. Although he’s won all three of his races since Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Frank Baldachino acquired him from the Erv Miller stable, Burke said he made no significant equipment changes.

“He was on his way for the former owners, and they just decided to take a profit,” Burke said. “This will be the first time he’s raced two weeks in a row for us. Yannick (Gingras) fits him. In the Adios, you need to be ultra-aggressive, and there’s nobody more aggressive than Yannick. I think that puts us in a good spot.”

The Adios field, in post position order, with drivers, trainers and early odds:

1. Yankee Bounty-Brett Miller-Ron Burke-8-1
2. Dude’s The Man-Corey Callahan-Jessica Okusko-5-2
3. Trading Up-Brett Miller-Tony Alagna-10-1
4. Cooperstown-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-6-1
5. Dreams Beachboy-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna-15-1
6. Lost For Words-David Miller-Brian Brown-5-1
7. My Hero Ron-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-3-1
8. Angelo J Fra-Tony Hall-Norm Parker-15-1
9. National Seelster-Tim Tetrick-Chris Ryder-8-1