Cannibal takes $350,000 Adios Pace after perfect drive

Cannibal (Sweet Lou) parlayed a perfect Yannick Gingras drive and a perfect trip to take the $350,000 Delvin Miller Adios Stakes in Grand Circuit harness racing action from The Meadows on Saturday afternoon (Jul. 29th).

Cannibal blasted off the gate and wrestled the early lead away from the other fast leaver It’s My Show (Scott Zeron) and he set the pace to the first quarter in :26.2 but that lead would be short lived. Zeron moved the 3 to 5 favorite out of the pocket and to the front as the field passed the stands for the first time. Ervin Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) sat third with Ken Hanover (Dave Miller) and Redwood Hanover (James Macdonald) content to race fourth and fifth as the field headed to the half.

It’s My Show clicked off a solid :53.3 opening half and he would soon face a stern challenge from Redwood Hanover, who was the first to move. As the field hit the three quarters in 1:21.2, It’s My Show clung to a narrow lead with Redwood Hanover breathing down his neck and Seven Colors (Dave Palone) set to pull three-wide off Redwood Hanover’s helmet. Meanwhile, Cannibal was watching all this action from the pocket and waiting for the lightning lane.

As the field straightened out for home, it was apparent that this wouldn’t be It’s My Show’s afternoon as Redwood Hanover took command in the lane with Cannibal sprinting up the pylons and Seven Colors trying to bridge the gap on the far outside.

At the wire, Cannibal prevailed by a neck over a game Redwood Hanover with Seven Colors a length back in third. It’s My Show held fourth over Ervin Hanover, who completed the Pentafecta. The winner returned $8.60 to win as second choice.

CANNIBAL REPLAY

Winning trainer Nancy Takter praised Gingras’ post position selection and his rationale for choosing the four hole.

“It’s funny because we got to pick our post first after winning the elimination and there was quite a discussion with Yannick,” she began. “I will say that Yannick picked it perfectly. He said: pick the 4, they’ll pick inside us, and we’ll make them work twice. So, kudos to Yannick for picking the right post. It really paid off.”

She then praised her sophomore colt. “This horse is a super nice horse,” she gushed. “I’ve said all along that he is your perfect A+ student. He just shows up all the time and I’m really proud of him and the team behind him.”

Cannibal is now 6 for 7 in 2023 and the $175,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted his lifetime earnings to just under $370,000 for owner/breeder Diamond Creek Racing of Pennsylvania.

$114,770 Adioo Volo to Always B Naughty

In other Grand Circuit action, the $114,770 Adioo Volo was won in emphatic style by Always B Naughty (Always B Miki) for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer and part-owner Takter, who had a big afternoon.

Always B Naughty was unhurried early as she watched favored early leader Strong Poison carve out solid early fractions of 26.3 for the quarter and 54.1 for the half. Dunn sent Always B Naughty first up and she methodically worked her way up to second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Strong Poison as the three-quarters was paced in 1:22.1.

Always B Naughty was too much in the stretch as she easily put away the leader then held the closers safe by 1 1/4 lengths. Square Deal (James Macdonald) followed the winner and got up for second, 3/4 of a length ahead of Odds On Hail Mary (Dave Palone). Daffled Hanover (Dave Miller) was another neck back in fourth.

ALWAYS B NAUGHTY REPLAY

The winner, who was unraced at two, was taking her eighth win in 12 starts to go along with three runner-up finishes. She has now earned just under $184,000 for Takter and partners Let It Ride Stable, and J L Benson Stables Inc. of Florida and R B H Ventures Inc. of New York. As second choice, she paid $6.60 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink