by Anne Doolin, for the Meadows

To view a video recap of the Delvin Miller Adios click here.

Meadow Lands, PA — A strong, three-wide move off the final turn propelled Vintage Master and driver Daniel Dube to a half-length upset victory in Saturday’s (August 1) $677,665 Delvin Miller Adios final at the Meadows in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 4,210.

Vintage Master charged down the stretch to win the Adios final in a time of 1:49.2.

The 43rd edition of the Adios, held again at the Meadows after being contested at Pocono Downs last year, boasted an $827,665 total purse (including last week’s eliminations), a record for a harness race in Pennsylvania. The 1:49.2 clocking was a stakes record for the Adios Final as well.

Vintage Master’s win, just the second in the colt’s career, came as a surprise to many, but not to trainer Jimmy Takter and Dube.

The son of Western Ideal, owned and bred by Brittany Farms and the estate of Brian Monieson, may have had just one prior win, but also had nearly $600,000 in earnings. He’d been second in 10 of his 24 lifetime starts prior to the Adios, including the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.

“I said a month ago that one of these days, he was going to win one of these big ones, and I’m glad it was in the Adios,” said an exuberant Takter, who was making his Adios debut. “The caliber of races he’s been in, those are tough to win. I thought we’d get a good chunk of this at least.”

“Jimmy has been working hard with this colt, week after week, to make him better,” said Dube, who likewise was winning his first Adios final. “I was locked in, but when I finally got in the flow three-wide, I knew he’d give me a good kick. Down by the wire, he gave me another surge. He didn’t win by accident. He won because he’s good.”

Jimmy Takter, Jr. leads Vintage Master to the winner’s circle while trainer Jimmy Takter raises driver Daniel Dube’s arm.

Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup victor Well Said was sent off the 2-5 favorite. When the gate folded, Straight Shooting, Mr Wiggles and Chasin Racin vied for the lead. They hit the quarter in :26.2, with Well Said and Ron Pierce fifth on the outside at that point, and Vintage Master well back in eighth.

Mr Wiggles was parked the three-eighths, finally cleared, then yielded to Well Said, who was on top at the half in :53.3. They hit the three-quarters in 1:21, and Vintage Master was still sixth in the outer tier.

As they turned for home, Mr Wiggles and Corey Callahan charged out after Well Said, and got the lead briefly, but it was Vintage Master coming fastest of all after launching his three-wide move. He swept by in deep stretch to win by a half-length, with Mr Wiggles second and Well Said third.

Vintage Master returned $29.80 and 11.80, while Mr Wiggles returned $8.80. There was no show wagering on the race. The 3-2 exacta paid $243.40.

Driver Ron Pierce said Well Said simply got tired.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Gerard Spoor of MEC presents the Adios trophy to Jimmy Takter and the winning connections.

“He’s had a lot of tough races,” he said. “There have been a lot in a row — Burlington, North America Cup elims and final. He went a huge mile in his Meadowlands Pace elim, was huge in the final, then set a track record 1:49 in his Adios elimination last week.

“I think it’s just caught up with him,” he said. “(Trainer) Steve Elliott will freshen him up, and I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”

Trainer George Teague, Jr., who trains second-place Adios finisher Mr Wiggles, sent out 17 starters on the day. He had seven wins, a second, and a third for the day, and owned a part of each winner. Driver Brian Sears had six winners, four of them for the Teague operation.