Sunfire Blue Chip and Lonewolf Currier at Top Form in Adios Eliminations

WASHINGTON, PA— The Grand Circuit made it’s annual visit to The Meadows, where two eliminations for the Delvin Miller Adios were contested on Saturday night.

Sunfire Blue Chip made his move to the front the first time in the stretch, fighting off all challengers up until the wire, taking the first Adios elimination in 1:50.3.

Some Kinda Beach was sent to the front and was parked out by Sunfire Blue Chip to the quarter. Evenin Of Pleasure got away in third and Martini Hanover was pacing fourth passed the first quarter in :26.3. Dave Palone brought Sunfire Blue Chip out of the pocket and brushed to the top passing the three-eighths pole. Word Power was looking for cover in fifth, Martini Hanover flushed out and zeroed-in on leader Sunfire Blue Chip at the half in :55 (:28.2).

Martini Hanover applied pressure to Sunfire Blue Chip down the backstretch. Word Power was stalking the battlers second over, while Some Kinda Beach got a pocket ride heading to three-quarters. Sunfire Blue Chip was still on top at three-quarters in 1:22.2 (:27.2). Martini Hanover was faltering, forcing Word Power to go three wide. Some Kinda Beach was struggling for racing room and eventually got out of the pocket entering the stretch. Sunfire Blue Chip still had the lead, Word Power was flying down the center of the track, but Sunfire Blue Chip got to the wire first by a nose in 1:50.3 (:28.1). Word Power was second, Some Kinda Beach was third and Evenin Of Pleasure took fourth.

Sunfire Blue Chip ($4.60), a son of American Ideal, emerged victorious for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical Ab and R A W Equine Inc. Jimmy Takter is the trained and Dave Palone sat in the bike.

It was lights out at the head of the stretch in elimination two, where Lonewolf Currier battled through fierce fractions with Sunshine Beach and digging in up until the wire to hold of closing Ultimate Beachboy and Vegas Vacation in 1:48.4.

Beach Memories launched from the far outside taking the lead early, Ultimate Beachboy followed him but took the pocket and Eddie Sweat paced into third. Lonewolf Currier was fourth heading to the quarter with Sunshine Beach behind him. Beach Memories went by the quarter in :26.2. John Campbell gave the cue to Lonewolf Currier, pulling first over and clearing the front passing the wire with a circuit remaining. Sunshine Beach tracked his move and was left to fight first over passing the half in :54.1 (:27.4).

The leaders sprinted down the backstretch with Sunshine Beach trying to clear the front from Lonewolf Currier. Beach Memories watched the battle unfold in third and Vegas Vacation gapped cover from Sunshine Beach in fourth. Sunshine Beach stuck his head in front at three-quarters in 1:20.3 (:26.2). His lead would come to a quick close as he began to gallop. Vegas Vacation was left first over at this point beginning his bid; Ultimate Beachboy dived to the passing lane closing fast. Lonewolf Currier held command, Ultimate Beachboy lunged one final time at the pylons to try and claim victory, but failed. Lonewolf Currier held on by a head in 1:48.3. Ultimate Beachboy settled for second, Vegas Vacation gave chase in third and Beach Memories completed the qualifying quartet.

Lonewolf Currier ($12.80), sired by The Panderosa, is owned by Fran Azur, trained by Kevin McDermott and was steered by John Campbell to a lifetime best of 1:48.3.