by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — When The Meadows stages a $266,032 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday afternoon, July 17, the event could serve as a veritable preview of the $700,000 (est.) Delvin Miller Adios, which will be contested July 24 and July 31. The sires stake will feature no fewer than 18 sophomores eligible for the “Pace for the Orchids,” offering fans an outstanding opportunity for some early Adios handicapping.

The sires stake, known as the Tarport Effrat, will be conducted over four divisions — races 4, 6, 8 and 10 — and it is the first split that may attract the most attention. There, the headliner is We Will See, a son of Western Hanover-Aberdakara who finished a close second in the $1,455,000 final of the North America Cup and a narrowly beaten third in the $294,965 final of the Art Rooney Pace. Sam DePinto trains We Will See, who surpassed $500,000 in career earnings with his North America Cup near miss, and owns with Earl Smith.

We Will See, with Brett Miller up, figures to be challenged by Pang Shui, who has been first or second in five consecutive races, including a place finish in the $300,000 final of the Max Hempt. Jim Morrill, Jr. pilots the son of No Pan Intended-Road To Pandalay for trainer Ray Schnittker and Peter Pan Stables.

Another Adios eligible to watch is Versado, who goes from the rail in Race 10. The gelded son of Dragon Again-Beach Jenny makes his first start since being acquired by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold for the sport’s leading trainer, Ron Burke. Dave Palone will guide Versado, who most recently captured an overnight at the Meadowlands in 1:49.2.

Although not an Adios eligible, Panesthetic provides considerable interest in Race 8. The gelded son of The Panderosa-Panalgesic has stepped up in recent weeks, winning four races consecutively, including two Pennsylvania Stallion Series legs in sub-1:52 fashion. Miller drives Panesthetic for trainer Scott Blackler and owners Arlene Shaw, Alice Bonenfant and P. Richard Shaw.

The stakes record for the Tarport Effrat is 1:50.2, established by Lonestar Legend in 2008.

First post for Saturday’s 15-race card is 12:55 p.m.