The Meadows: Papi Rob Hanover's injury makes for wide-open Adios

When Papi Rob Hanover blazed to a world-record 1:47 1/5 in last week's eliminations for the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, the harness racing world eagerly anticipated what he might do for an encore in the $375,000 Adios final on June 1. Alas, it won't happen, as Papi Rob Hanover has been withdrawn from the final with what his owner David McDuffee describes as a stress fracture of his left front coffin bone.

With Papi Rob out, attention turned to Catch The Fire and The Greek Freak, the other elimination winners, who got to select their post positions.The connections of Catch The Fire, after winning the draw for selection order, choose post 3, while The Greek Freak's camp opted for post 4. Papi Rob Hanover's withdrawal opened a spot for Captain Barbossa, who drew in as the fourth-place finisher with the highest career earnings.

The Adios, which goes as race 15 with an approximate post time of 4:02 PM, anchors a powerhouse card that also features the $107,320 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers, a $59,088 Arden Downs stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers, and a $35,690 Arden Downs event for 2-year-old filly pacers. Other highlights include a pair of stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters: a $187,182 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and an $80,000 PA Stallion Series event. The card gets underway at the special post time of 11:25 AM.

McDuffee said Papi Rob Hanover, a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Panera Hanover, nearing $1 million in earnings after only 16 career starts, including a second-place finish in the Meadowlands Pace, won't race again this year.

"I don't think his injury happened at The Meadows," he said. "I believe it occurred in the Meadowlands Pace when he hopped for a moment and David (Miller) had to take hold of him. If he'd shown any signs of injury, we wouldn't have raced him at The Meadows. You saw how easily he won his elimination."

He said he won't make a hurried decision on the horse's future.

"It's not a life-threatening injury; it will heal in time," he said. "There could be a lot of records he could set at 4. Stallion-wise, he's also generating a lot of interest. He's a very special, smart horse. Papi Rob will be heard from again."

Trainers Tony Alagna and Ron Burke each will be represented by three horses in the Adios. Here's the field with post positions, trainers and drivers:

$375,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids

1. Later Dudes Brian Brown David Miller

2. Capt Midnight Tony Alagna Andrew McCarthy

3. Catch The Fire John Ackley Mike Wilder

4. The Greek Freak Ron Burke Matt Kakaley

5. No Lou Zing Nancy Takter Josert Fonseca

6. Sweet Truth Ron Burke Yannick Gingras

7. Chief Mate Tony Alagna Scott Zeron

8. Captain Barbossa Tony Alagna Brian Sears

9. Elver Hanover Ron Burke Chris Page

-edited release (Evan Pattak for MSOA)