As the calendar turns to July, Hollywood Casino at the Meadows happily welcomes the heart and climax of this year’s local Stakes Season. The Saturday, July 20 card will see two eliminations for the 2024 Delvin Miller Adios Pace. First post time on the 15-race card is at 12:45 pm and the Adios Eliminations will go to post as Races 8 and 9 at approximately 3:12 pm and 3:33 pm. The card also features four divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and six divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Next Saturday’s card will be the signature card of the year at the Meadows, featuring the Adios Final, the Adioo Volo, and four different sets of the Arden Downs Stakes.
Next Saturday’s Adios Final card will also provide tremendous opportunities for bettors as part of the “Richest Day in PA”. The card will offer eleven guaranteed wagering pools that will total $200,000. Among the highlights are a $15,000 Adios Pick 8 pool that starts in Race 8, a $15,000 Adios Pick 4 that starts in Race 13, and a $50,000 trifecta and a $25,000 superfecta pools in Race 15, the Adios Final. The Adios Pick 8 will be a particularly interesting wager to pay attention to as it will link many of the best races on the card in a 20-cent base wager with just a 15% takeout.
Regarding this Saturday’s betting opportunities, Race 8, the first Adios Elimination, could provide a nice value play in the form of #7 CLEVER CODY. CLEVER CODY has tons of back class and has earned nearly $500,000 in his brief career so far. A break ruined his chances in the North America Cup Eliminations, but he rebounded with a strong second in the Consolation the following week. However, where he’s really found success recently has been on the smaller tracks, with wins at Miami Valley, Northfield, and Scioto in the last two months. I like him in this spot to be able to use his gate speed from the outside post to secure a nice spot early and at 7-1 on the morning line he’s worth a try to win. As a second choice, I’d try #1 SWEET BEACH LIFE from the rail off a sharp win in the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes and a good qualifier last week. I’m going to take a stand against #6 CAPTAIN LUKE in this spot off a huge mile and effort in the Meadowlands Pace final.
The second Adios Elimination in Race 9 features my early pick to win it all this year: #5 CAPTAIN ALBANO. He has the strongest class of this year’s group and is looking for a signature race win this year after finishing fourth in the North America Cup and a difficult ninth in the Meadowlands Pace final after a tough trip. I expect him to flaunt his stuff in this Elimination and show who the one to knock off next week is. Underneath, however, we can try to get a little value with the 8-1 morning line of #6 NOBLESVILLE. He’s put together a solid start to the year and has found quite a bit of success in Indiana in the past two seasons. The Ron Burke barn always put horses in the right spots and I think he can be in the mix here at a bit of a number. Best of luck with your wagers this week at the Meadows and enjoy the 2024 Adios Pace Eliminations!
