The Meadows: Adios final set after three eliminations

The chalk went zero-for-three in Saturday afternoon's trio of $25,000 Adios eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Meadows, with Abuckabett Hanover, Hellabalou, and Water Sports Teen collecting the victories.

Driver Andrew McCarthy won the first two eliminations after sitting pocket trips. First up was Abuckabett Hanover, who followed Southwind Gendry through opening-half stations of 26 4/5 and 55 4/5, then had a great view of a battle between Southwind Gendry and a first-over Natameri (Mike Wilder) to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters and around the last turn. In the stretch the passing lane became available for Abuckabett Hanover, and after McCarthy guided his charge there, Abuckabett Hanover charged by on his way to a 1 1/4 length triumph in 1:50 3/5. Natameri was second over Southwind Gendry.

Abuckabett Hanover is a Betting Line colt trained by Tony Alagna for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Alagna Racing LLC., Jablonsky Held Stable, and Barbara N. Wienick Stable. This was his ninth win from 20 career starts, and he has now earned $277,021. He was the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.40 to win.

"He's had nothing but bad draws, bad luck. Even today, he drew seven in a seven-horse field," Alagna said. "Andy said he never popped his plugs today. He's a quality horse. What he was doing early in the year he'll do late in the year, too."

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In the next elimination, Hellabalou and McCarthy stalked 4-5 favorite One Eight Hundred (Tim Tetrick) through fractions of 25 4/5, 54 1/5, and 1:21, then also came through in the passing lane to prevail by two lengths in 1:49 1/5. Mysweetboymax saved ground from off-the-pace and got up for second at 42-1, and Chase H Hanover (Brian Sears) was third after a first-over grind.

Eddie Dennis trains Hellabalou, an 81-1 winner in a Meadowlands Pace elimination a couple weeks ago, for owner Eric Good. The Sweet Lou colt has compiled a record of 5-1-1 from 17 appearances, and he pushed his bankroll to $139,636. Sent off at 5-1 today, he returned $12.80 to win.

"He has good gate speed, and that helps a lot to put you in good position with these kinds of horses," Dennis said. 'i was a little worried today because the other times he raced here, it seemed like he wasn't as sharp. But we got here last night, and he got to rest and was feeling good. I was pretty confident of a good showing."

The fastest elimination went to Water Sports Teen and Joe Bongiorno in 1:48 2/5. Water Sports Teen rolled to the engine from post three and chopped out a 26 3/5 opening quarter. Even-money favorite Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn) tried to attack out of the pocket past that marker, but Bongiorno would have none of it and drove on to keep Rockyroad Hanover in the two-hole at the 54 2/5 half and 1:21 2/5 three-quarters. Despite the fast fractions, Water Sports Teen still had a 27 second final kicker in him, and he used it to hold off Rockyroad Hanover by a length. Lou's Pearlman (Gingras) was the third-place finisher.

"The horse seems a little more manageable, a little more relaxed now," said Bongiorno. "He's fitting in our program really well. He was on cruise control today; he finished with the ear plugs in. I think he had a little left."

A Somebeachsomewhere colt, Water Sports Teen is trained by Jenn Bongiorno for owner Joshua Graber. Now three-for-three since those connections purchased him, Water Sports Teen is a nine-time winner from 24 trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $98,080. He was the 4-1 third choice and paid $10.20 to win.

The $375,000 Adios final will be the feature on next Saturday's stakes-filled program at The Meadows. Post time is 12 noon.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--