Custard The Dragon draws post 1 for Adios

Custard The Dragon has drawn the rail for the $500,000 Adios, set for Saturday afternoon at The Meadows and has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The race will be the 10th on the card, with an approximate post time of 4 pm.

 

“My reaction is good,” said the favorite’s conditioner, George Teague, Jr., who won last year’s Adios with Delmarvalous and is looking to become only the fifth trainer to go back to back in the event. “That’s a pretty good draw. The inside definitely will make him more effective.”

 

From the rail out, the field includes: 1--Custard The Dragon (Montrell Teague), 2--Real Special (Yannick Gingras), 8-1; 3--Alsace Hanover (Ron Pierce), 3-1;  4--Powerful Mist (Dave Palone), 4-1;  5--Rollwithitharry (Tim Tetrick), 6-1;  6--Wind Me Up (David Miller), 12-1;  7--Eighteen (Corey Callahan), 20-1; 8--Hugadragon (Andy Miller), 20-1; and 9--Odysseus Bluechip (Brett Miller), 12-1.

 

Teague also will have a shot with his other Adios finalist, Wind Me Up, who drew post 6. Montrell Teague, who at 20 would become the youngest driver ever to win an Adios final, will pilot Custard The Dragon as he did last week in the fastest mile (1:48.3) ever paced by a 3-year-old colt on a five-eighths-mile track and the fastest mile ever paced at The Meadows regardless of age. The eliminations produced a second world champion—Alsace Hanover, whose mile in 1:48.4 was the fastest ever by a 3-year-old gelding pacer on a five-eighths-mile track.

 

Trainer Ron Burke, whose two finalists, Real Special and Hugadragon, drew posts 2 and 8 respectively, suggested that the race will be interesting and difficult to handicap thanks to the draw.

 

“I like the position for Real Special, but it’s a strange set-up,” Burke said. “It will be very difficult for the outside horses to get around both Real Special and Custard The Dragon. I don’t know if they can take that shot.”

 

The Adios final will anchor an outstanding 17-race card that will offer more than $1.1 million in purses. Also featured are the $181,000 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers; the $120,000 Gov. Lawrence for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers; the $50,000 Adios consolation, and four $50,000 Opens.

 

On Adios Day, The Meadows will guarantee a $10,000 pool for its Pick 4 wager and will add a Superfecta on the Adios final. (The Meadows)