Meadows: McWicked romps in Adios elimination

The rain couldn’t spoil the evening for McWicked at the Meadows on Saturday night in one of three $50,000 elimination heats to qualify for the Delvin Miller Adios final (July 26). The three-year-old by McArdle scored in 1:50 4/5 over a track rated sloppy, winning impressively as the 1-5 betting favorite.

Driver Dave Miller didn’t get excited early from his rail position and allowed At Press Time to clear the front in 26 4/5 before zipping the Casie Coleman-trained colt to the front passing the stands. McWicked rated kindly through a half in 55 2/5 and 1:23 4/5 before losing rivals in the stretch with a brisk 27-second final quarter.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign Up for the FREE newly designed DRF Harness Newsletter!]

At Press Time just held off a fast-closing Stevensville for the place spot. Both colts return for the final.

“I didn’t want to leave real hard and have to re-move him,” said Miller. “He was pretty comfortable.”

McWicked scored for the third straight time having annexed the $500,000 Hempt at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in his last start on June 28 in 1:47 3/5.

Somewhere In LA followed second over cover and rallied impressively to score in 1:50 in another $50,000 Adios elimination. Brett Miller guided the altered son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Jimmy Takter.

Limelight Beach made two early moves and was on the point after fractions of 26 1/5 and 53 4/5 over the “good” track. Longshot Journeyman took up the chase and challenged through a 1:22 three quarters with the winner on his heels.

On the final turn, Brett Miller rallied wide with Somewhere In LA and overpowered the field to win by open lengths. Bushwacker rallied inside for Dave Palone and finished second with Carracci Hanover gaining the last berth in the final.
Let’s Drink On It scored as a 3-5 choice in another Adios elimination with young driver Tyler Smith moving the Art Official-sired colt to the front after the quarter and breezing in 1:50 2/5. Trained by Joe Seekman, Let’s Drink On It reached the half in 55 and then picked up the pace down the backstretch hitting three quarters in 1:21 4/5.

“He’s so much better off the pace,” said Smith following the race. “1:21 4/5 for the three quarters was a little much but he finished it off.”

Beat The Drum rallied late for second outsprinting second-choice Cammikey for the place spot. Both return for next week’s $400,000 final.