The field is set for Saturday’s 55th Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids final at The Meadows.
The purse pays $375,000 to the winner, and last Saturday’s elimination winners — Abuckabett Hanover, Water Sports Teen and Hellabalou — will start from post positions 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
Those connected to the three elimination winners earned the right to select their post positions.
Abuckabett Hanover trainer Tony Alagna won a random draw.
Jennifer Bongiorno then chose for Water Sports Teen, and Hellabalou trainer Eddie Dennis selected third.
Water Sports Teen had the fastest time in last week’s eliminations at 1 minute, 48.2 seconds, and the victory was its fifth in a row.
The remaining six post positions were determined by a random draw.
A busy day of racing Saturday also will be highlighted by five other stakes: the $106,745 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers; a pair of Arden Downs Grand Circuit events for freshman pacers, and a $143,132 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and a $40,000 PA Stallion Series event, both for 3-year-old filly trotters.
Last year’s Adios final saw Washington resident and Meadows regular Mike Wilder steer Catch The Fire past eight others to victory (1:49.3) in the 54th edition.
Wilder will hope to do the same with Natameri in the No. 7 post position.
Brian Sears, who is scheduled to drive Chase H Hanover from the No. 8 position Saturday, was the 2019 winner with Southwind Ozzi (1:48).
The 1:48 time was the second-fastest in an Adios final.
Jeff Zidek will have the call for his second Adios final after replacing longtime announce Roger Huston. Zidek is just the fourth announcer to call the event in its 55 years. The others were Ken Kadar and Charlie Hinkle.
A special post time Saturday is at noon.
$375,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids
Saturday
The Meadows
Field listed, from left: post position, drivers (some will change) and trainers
1. Rockyroad Hanover, Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna
2. Lou’s Pearlman, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke
3. Abuckabett Hanover, Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna
5. Hellabalou, Tim Tetrick, Eddie Dennis
6. Mysweetboymax, David Miller, Sam DePinto
7. Natameri, Mike Wilder, Howard Okusko, Jr.
8. Chase H Hanover, Brian Sears, Scott Cox
9. Southwind Gendry, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke
