The Meadows: Adioo Volo trophy goes to Blue Diamond Eyes

Blue Diamond Eyes didn't disappoint as the 1-9 favorite in the $106,745 Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows, winning in 1:49 4/5.

Driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Ron Burke, Blue Diamond Eyes went on the attack before the 27 second opening quarter and cleared early leader Chase Lounge (Andrew McCarthy) for the top spot after that marker. As soon as Blue Diamond Eyes took charge, David Miller elected to tip and roll from third with fellow Burke trainee Continualou, but Gingras had no interest in even allowing Continualou to challenge, and he stepped on the gas in a 54 2/5 middle-half (54 to the half and 1:21 2/5 for three-quarters) to first stall out Continualou's bid and then put her away for good.

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Around the last turn and through the stretch it was all Blue Diamond Eyes, as she proved much too tough for the others, winning by 3 3/4 lengths. Beach Crazy (Dexter Dunn) got up for second at 35-1, followed by 47-1 Darby Hanover (Andy Miller).

"She's been super-sharp all year, but she's been in with a tough group of fillies," Gingras said.

A daughter of Captaintreacherous bred by Brittany Farms, Blue Diamond Eyes is trained by Burke for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon. Blue Diamond Eyes won the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship, the Kentucky Sires Stakes Championship, and the Three Diamonds last year, and this was her second win in eight tries in 2021. Now with an overall record of 7-5-4 from 21 tries and a bankroll of $741,664, Blue Diamond Eyes paid $2.20 to win.

"She started slow last year," Burke said, "but by the end of the year, she was the best filly racing. She's big, and it takes her a while to get rolling. From here on out, she'll be pretty tough no matter who she races."

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--