The Meadows: Favorites ready to shine in $375,000 Adios

The elimination races for the 2021 Delvin Miller Adios proved how foolish it is to take anything for granted. All three post-time favorites went down last weekend and now the trio of elimination winners will hope the tides have turned when they enter the public's eye as the ones to beat in Saturday's (July 31) $375,000 Adios final at The Meadows.

Trainer Tony Alagna arguably goes into the Adios holding the best hand, with elimination winner Abuckabett Hanover and runner-up Rockyroad Hanover not only making the final, but starting from posts three and one, respectively. Both colts came into last week with questions to answer after fifth-place finishes in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations and getting badly interefered with in the final

"Let's hope they have a good go on Saturday," said Alagna. "If they fire right back as good as they were in their eliminations, they'll have a voice in the final, I think."

Abuckabett Hanover, listed as the 5-1 fourth choice on the morning-line in the final, overcame post seven by flashing early speed and working out a pocket trip in his elimination win. Erroneously charted as "out" at the three quarters, driver Andrew McCarthy, who will be back in the bike on Saturday, guided the son of Betting Line up the passing lane for the easy win.

Rockyroad Hanover (4-1) also had a smooth pocket trip, but gapped a bit off the keyed-up winner Water Sports Teen before closing in very late in the mile to miss by a length.

"I thought he raced good; I didn't think he was great. But I think part of it is the fact that when he got knocked out of the Meadowlands Pace, he didn't actually get to go a whole mile. Sometimes those horses lose fitness. If they don't get that fast work into them in between, they can come up a little short," said Alagna. "This week will tell the tale. He's in a good spot, he trained back great, his blood work and everything looks good, so he's got every right to be OK."

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Hellabalou (7-1), who won his Meadowlands Pace elimination before being sixth-placed-fifth in the final, worked out his own pocket journey to win his Adios elimination. With new driver Tim Tetrick in tow from post five, the Sweet Lou-sired colt will look to parlay his success into a much bigger check this Saturday.

"He's doing pretty good right now. He's ready to go. As ready as I can hope. He trained good yesterday, we blew him out a trip so he's sharp, and we're just waiting to get behind the gate," said trainer Eddie Dennis.

While the aforementioned elimination winners stopped the clock in 1:50 3/5 and 1:49 1/5, Water Sports Teen blew them away in terms of time with an eye-catching 1:48 2/5 victory. That performance has earned him 3-1 status on the morning-line.

Water Sports Teen has been on quite a roll for the brother-sister team of driver Joe and trainer Jenn Bongiorno. Since owner Joshua Jay Graber picked up the son of Somebeachsomewhere from Black Magic Racing LLC., he has won three straight races.

"They put him on onGait," said Joe Bongiorno. "The owner, Josh Graber, called Jenn and said he was interested in the horse. He had us look the horse up, and we liked him. He said he was going to take a good run at him and try to get him. I think he got him for $83,000. It looks like he made a really good buy right now, that's for sure.

"If he comes with his game face on, I think he's going to be really tough in there. He still had more left the way he felt at the wire last week," concluded Bongiorno, who will leave from post four with Water Sports Teen in the final.

Lou's Pearlman (post two, Yannick Gingras), Mysweetboymax (post six, David Miller), Natameri (post seven, Mike Wilder), Chase H Hanover (post eight, Brian Sears), and Southwind Gendry (post nine, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) complete the Adios field.

The Adios (race 15) is the highlight of a stakes-filled 16-race card at The Meadows. The Stallion Series kicks off the day's action with the first of two $20,000 divisions at noon and is followed by a pair of PA Sire Stakes races (fourth and seventh) worth just over $71,000 each, four $20,000-plus Arden Downs stakes for 2-year-old pacers of both sexes (races eight, nine, 12, and 13) and the $106,475 Adioo Volo for 3-year-old pacing fillies (race 12).

The betting action includes two $10,000 guaranteed Pick 5s (races two and 11) and one Pick 4 (race seven), a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 4 in race 12, and a $20,558 carryover in the Adios Hi-5 with a mandatory payout.

--quotes courtesy of Ken Weingartner--