Custard The Dragon Breathing Fire Entering Adios
The 3-year-old pacing colt division still lacks a clear leader. Not that several horses haven't staked a claim. Certainly Roll With Joe (Cam's Card Shark) is in the mix, following his Meadowlands Pace win.Up The Credit (Western Terror) made a statement in the North America Cup. Big Jim (Western Ideal), last year's champion, is a major factor.
Hoosier Cup winner Custard The Dragon (Dragon Again) deserves mention, especially after last week's dazzling world-record performance in the eliminations for the $500,000 Del Miller Adios. He finished the 1:48.1 mile with a 26.4 final quarter as he pulled away from Powerful Mist (Powerful Toy) by 2 1-2 lengths. The mark was the fastest ever at The Meadows.
"I loved the end of it," said 20-year-old driver Montrell Teague. "Seeing that last fraction was amazing."
That powerful performance, combined with the rail for final, make Custard The Dragon the deserved 2-1 favorite in the Pace for the Orchids.
He is 8-1-2 in 15 starts, good for $576,667 in the bank this season for the ownership team of Ted Gewertz, Robert Feldman, Fannin Racing and George Teague, Jr., Montrell's dad and the colt's trainer. George Teague won this race last year with Delmarvalous (Badlands Hanover) and is looking to become only the fifth trainer to post back-to-back Adios wins.
He likes where he's sitting.
"That's a pretty good draw," George Teague said. "The inside definitely will make him more effective."
Teague also sends out Wind Me Up (Bettor's Delight) from post No. 6 with David Miller driving.
The eliminations also yielded another world record as Alsace Hanover (The Panderosa) stopped the clock in 1:48.4, lowering the mark for a 3-year-old gelding.
He is the 3-1 second choice from post No. 3 with Ron Pierce at the lines for trainer Tony O'Sullivan. Rollwithitharry(Rocknroll Hanover) was the third elimination winner in 1:50.2 in a 10-1 upset with Pierce driving. When Pierce opted to handle Alsace Hanover in the final, Tim Tetrick got the assignment from trainer Jimmy Takter.
Rollwithitharry is 6-1 from post No. 5. Powerful Mist is already a 14-time winner his season. He cut the fractions in Custard The Dragon's record-setting elimination as the 9-10 favorite. Dave Palone will steer for trainer Wayne Givens.
Like Teague, trainer Ron Burke has two uncoupled horses in the final: Real Special (Real Desire) and Hugadragon (Dragon Again). Eighteen (Cam's Card Shark) and Odysseus Bluechip (Cam's Card Shark) complete the field.
The Adios anchors a 17-race card that offers more than $1.1 million in purses. Also on tap are the $181,000 Adioo Volo, the companion event for 3-year-old filly pacers; the $120,000 Gov. Lawrence for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers; a $50,000 Adios consolation, and four $50,000 Opens.