Well Said seeks rare Pace/Adios double
July 22, 2009,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Ken Weingartner Freehold, NJ — 
The last Meadowlands Pace winner to capture the Adios was David’s Pass in 1995. The only Meadowlands Pace winners to compete in the Adios since then were Dream Away in 1997 and Southwind Lynx in 2007. Prior to last year, the Adios eliminations and final were contested on the same day.
Well Said won the $1 million Meadowlands Pace by six lengths over Vintage Master in 1:47.3 on July 18 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The colt is trained by Steve Elliott and driven by Ron Pierce. He is owned by Jeff Snyder and Lothlorien stable. Snyder has three Adios victories already, with Cam’s Card Shark in 1994, Million Dollar Cam in 2002 and Village Jolt in 2005.
In June, Well Said won the $1.3 million North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Well Said is the eighth horse in history to win both the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace. He has won five of six races this year and earned $1.2 million. He has banked $1.7 million in his career, which includes a victory in the 2008 Breeders Crown.
“I feel (Well Said) is the best horse I’ve ever owned,” Snyder said. “He’s just got such an easy way of going. The speed comes to him naturally. I’ve had some good ones, but this colt is amazing to me. We’re just thrilled about him.”
The five horses that finished behind Well Said in the Meadowlands Pace also will appear in Adios elims: Vintage Master, If I Can Dream, Chasin Racin, Schoolkids, and Ideal Danny. North America Cup third-place finisher Keep It Real, as well as Hoosier Cup winner Mr Wiggles and Max C. Hempt Memorial champ Johnny Z, are among the other entrants.
Chasin Racin, who won the Matt’s Scooter Series final and was the runner-up in the Hoosier Cup, Mr Wiggles and Johnny Z are among five horses entered from the George Teague, Jr. Stable. Joining that trio will be Built To Drive and Bunkmeister.
Lisa photo
Chasin Racin has banked $311,410 this year and is one of five George Teague, Jr. entries in the field.
“I think I’ve got some legit horses,” Teague said. “Well Said is definitely the horse to beat; his last three (wins) have been ultra impressive. I haven’t got the standout, but I’ve got some depth in quality. I have my reasons for putting them all in. But it’s a quality field of horses. It won’t be easy.”
If I Can Dream, who earlier this year won the Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway, Schoolkids, Straight Shooting and Vertical Horizon are owned by Bulletproof Enterprises.
Ideal Danny is one of three horses, along with Panmunjom and Precious Medal, entered by trainer Tony Alagna for the Erv Miller Stable. Panmunjom was last year’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion. He got his first win of 2009, in five starts, on July 16 in a leg of the sire stakes at The Meadows.
“It just took (Panmunjom) a little while to get back into shape,” said Alagna, the second trainer for the Miller Stable. “Not every horse responds right away after having the winter off. It took him a few starts before we got him to where we wanted him. Precious Medal has really stepped up the last couple starts (both wins) after dealing with chronic allergies. He gets over the (Meadows) track good, so it’s a good place to take a shot with him. He has potential.”
Trainer Ron Burke also has three entrants, with Sheer Desire, Born To Rockn Roll and Mobile.
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.
- Adios Week kicks off July 24 at the Meadows (Monday, July 20, 2009)
Following a one-year hiatus, when Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs graciously staged the event during racino construction at The Meadows, the Delvin Miller Adios has returned to its home track, with its customary compelling blend of top-quality harness racing and fun-filled special events.
- Well Said leads 26 into Adios eliminations (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)
North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace winner Well Said leads a field of 26 sophomore pacing colts and geldings into Friday’s Delvin Miller Adios eliminations at The Meadows.
- 37 years after his first Adios, Jim Ferguson tries again (Thursday, July 23, 2009)
After steering Goodbye Columbus in the 1972 Adios, Jim Ferguson is back as the trainer of Roadway, who is entered in Friday’s Adios eliminations at The Meadows.
- Pierce and Elliott have been a winning combination (Monday, July 27, 2009)
Ron Pierce and Steve Elliott are no strangers to success when racing horses together.