Well Said sets Meadows all-age record in Adios elim

Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup winner Well Said set an all-time track record at The Meadows Friday afternoon in capturing the second of three $50,000 Delvin Miller Adios eliminations in 1:49. The other eliminations went to If I Can Dream in 1:49.4 and Mr. Wiggles in 1:49.1.

 

In that second elim, driver Ron Pierce got away sixth with Well Said, but taking no chances as a parked-out Johnny Z ranged up on the outside early, he moved the odds-on choice to the outside. A first-over Keep It Real, the second choice on the odds board, took the lead for driver Brian Sears before the half was reached in :55, but Pierce was able to take command with the fast-moving Well Said heading toward the three quarters, which was clocked in 1:21.4.

 

Well Said remained on top through the stretch as Keep It Real remained close behind, and he closed out his record mile with a final quarter of :27.1. Schoolkids finished third for Dave Palone to earn a return ticket for the $677,665 Adios final Saturday afternoon, Aug. 1. The time bested the previous all-age track standard of 1:49.3 set by the 3-year-old Santastic’s Pan in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contest in 2004.

 

Trained by Steve Elliott, Well Said is owned by Jeffrey Snyder and Susan Grange’s Lothlorien. With his two victories in the two million-dollar events, the NA Cup and Meadowlands Pace, the Western Hanover son Well Said entered the Adios elims with $1,212,120 in seasonal earnings.

 

Pierce is a previous two-time Adios winner, having directed Timesareachanging and Village Jolt to the winner’s circle in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

 

In the first Adios elim, George Brennan sent favored If I Can Dream first-over approaching the half, which was reached in :54. If I Can Dream was able to move past the leading Chasin Racin as the three-quarter timer flashed 1:21.2 before drawing clear from the field.

 

Under only slight urging from Brennan, If I Can Dream coasted to the victory, missing the all-age and division track standard of 1:49.4 set by Santastic’s Pan by just one-fifth of a second. Ideal Danny finished second for Tim Tetrick, with Chasin Racing holding on for third for driver David Miller.

 

Brennan won the 2007 Adios with May June Character. If I Can Dream, a son of Western Hanover who earlier this year won the $421,850 Art Rooney at Yonkers, is trained by Tracy Brainard for owner Bulletproof Enterprises.

 

In the third elimination, Randy Tharps sent Bunkmeister fast out of the gate and the 60-1 outsider set first-half fractions of :25.4 and :53.4, respectively. Corey Callahan moved Mr. Wiggles first-over to the lead approaching the half and the George Teague Jr. trainee was able to easily move past his stablemate Bunkmeister approaching three quarters in 1:20.4.

 

Under urging, Mr. Wiggles desperately held onto the victory, with the final margin just a nose over an inside-rallying Vintage Master, who was ducked to the inside in the stretch by driver Daniel Dube. Straight Shooting rallied on the outside for driver Tetrick to take third and earn a spot in the rich final.

 

A son of Badlands Hanover, Mr. Wiggles, who earlier this year won the $500,000 Hoosier Cup at Hoosier Park, is owned by Teague in partnership with Elmer Fannin.