It's My Show the favorite for The Meadows' 57th Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids

It’s My Show dazzled last Saturday in the eliminations for the 57th Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

The winning time of 1 minute, 47.4 seconds set a world record for a 3-year-old gelding on a five-eights-mile track and put It’s My Show as one of the favorites for Saturday’s grand finale with $350,000 on the line.

But Cannibal, the winner of the other elimination heat at 1:48.2, is hoping to make some noise when the race goes off near the end of a packed 16-race schedule.

By virtue of their victories last weekend, representatives for both horses were first to select their post positions Wednesday for the championship heat.

Cannibal’s group won a draw for selection order, and trainer Nancy Takter chose post 4. It’s My Show trainer Linda Tosaco then followed by selecting post 3, putting the two favorites side-by-side at the heart of the race field.

Saturday’s race card, anchored by the Adios final, also features five other Grand Circuit stakes. The first post is 11:45 a.m.

It’s My Show, the winner of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup in June, is undefeated this year with wins in seven starts.

He was able to hold off a charging Confederate to win the North America Cup final in a time of 1:47 4/5. Confederate went on to claim victory at the Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

Cannibal has just one loss this year — the final of the Meadowlands Pace.

The seven other positions for Saturday’s Adios final were determined by a random draw.

Toscano is the only trainer to have two entries in the field. Fulton, which finished third overall in the North America Cup, will run out of the No. 9 post.

The No. 7 post was fruitful last year as Bythemissal, driven by Chris Page for local trainer Ron Burke, took the title in an 8-1 upset over favorites Pebble Beach and Beach Glass.

Bythemissal was second in his elimination. It was his lone loss in six career starts heading into the Adios final.

Burke this year has Adios hopeful Ervine Hanover in the field in the No. 2 post position. Yannick Gingras is Ervine Hanover’s tentative driver.

The top four finishers from each of the two eliminations automatically qualified for the Adios final.

The ninth entry — Bamboozler in the No. 6 post position — was determined by which fifth-place horse from each elimination owned the higher career earnings

The festivities for the Adios Pace for the Orchids begin Friday with Adios Eve from 5-7 p.m. featuring a variety of family activities.

All the Adios Day action will be livestreamed with free access on the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The livestream show, which begins at 11:45 a.m., will be hosted by Meadows race caller Jeff Zidek, prominent harness announcer Gabe Prewitt, and Dawnelle Mock of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association.

$350,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids

Saturday

Hollywood Casino, The Meadows

Field listed from left: Post position, trainers and preliminary driver designations

1. Flite Craft, Norm Parker, Mike Wilder

2. Ervine Hanover, Ron Burke, Yannick Gingras

3. It’s My Show, Linda Toscano, Scott Zeron

4. Cannibal, Nancy Takter, Gingras

5. Redwood Hanover, Anthony Beaton, James MacDonald

6. Bamboozler, Virgil Morgan, Jr., Dexter Dunn

7. Seven Colors, Brian Brown, Dave Palone

8. Ken Hanover, Roland Mallar, David Miller

9. Fulton, Toscano, Dunn