The Meadows: Bythemissal hauls down favorites in Delvin Miller Adios final

Bythemissal wore down Meadowlands Pace champion Beach Glass from first-over and was a 1:48 3/5 winner of the $350,000 Delvin Miller Adios for 3-year-old male pacers on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows. That time equaled the track record for a sophomore gelding pacer.

Coming off a closing second-place finish in his elimination a week ago and sent off at odds of 8-1, Bythemissal got away in the fifth spot from post seven for driver Chris Page. Meanwhile, River Ness (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) tried to leave quickly from post four but made a brief break, allowing North America Cup winner Pebble Beach (Todd McCarthy) to get command. Pebble Beach would then yield to Beach Glass after the 25 4/5 opening quarter while River Ness found a spot in third.

Beach Glass went on to click off the half in 53 4/5, and Page would give Bythemissal his marching orders first-up past that station. Once he was fed racetrack, Bythemissal quickly gained into second on the rim before the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters and continued to duel with Beach Glass around the last turn, with Pebble Beach sticking right with them from the pocket.

In the upper part of the stretch Bythemissal forged his way around Beach Glass, and although Pebble Beach had space in the passing lane, he had no kick to go with it, allowing Bythemissal to go on to prevail by about a length and a quarter. Beach Glass was next, followed by Pebble Beach, River Ness, and Ario Hanover (David Miller).

"Hats off to Ronnie Burke and the team, they had him razor sharp today," said Page. "[He had] home court advantage, and he's very fresh. I knew it was going to be a horse race."

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A gelded son of Downbytheseaside bred by Stephen Dey, Bythemissal is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bythemissal has compiled a record of 6-1-0 from seven starts, has now earned $252,750, and paid $18.20 to win.

"I've been saying all along this is the best horse I've had in the last couple of years. I was just hoping Chris had confidence going into the race today. He said 'don't worry bud, we've got this.' He's a special horse," remarked Burke. "He's going to do a lot more before the end of the year. I'm going to guess the Milstein [is next], but we'll have to see."