Jul 22, 2025 4 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Sometimes it is truly better to be lucky than good.

Ask Roland Mallar, trainer of Adios finalist Wedlock Blue Chip.

At the Harrisburg yearling auction in 2023, Mallar spotted the smallish horse while it walked through the ring. Mallar was being asked questions by friends and other horsemen and was distracted when the horse was purchased for only $10,000.

Don Hawk, an associate of one of the successful bidders, came up to Mallar and asked if he’d be interested in training the colt.

“It’s ironic,” Mallar said. “(Hawk) approached me and asked if I would be interested in training the horse and when I looked at him, I realized it was the horse I’d marked down because it interested me.

“He sold early that particular day. Sometimes it takes time for the sale to get warmed up and you might find a bargain later in the day.”

Mallar agreed to train Wedlock Blue Chip. Two years later, he oversees a promising 3-year-old who is one of nine horses who qualified for Saturday’s Delvin Miller’s Adios Pace for the Orchids.

The finalists’ post positions will be determined this morning and the connections of the two elimination winners – Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn-Chris Ryder) and Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Ron Burke) – will select their post positions.

The 59th Adios Pace will be the 15th race of the afternoon and will be contested around 4:45 p.m. The Adios card has an 11:30 a.m. post time.

Wedlock Blue Chip finished fourth in the second elimination last Saturday. He was driven by Dunn and certainly will have a different driver in the final.

“I think he kind of likes it and he knows what he’s doing,” Mallar said. “He’s always going to try to run down those ahead of him.

“If the mile goes into 1:48 or something like that, he’ll still be trying. Whether he can get there or not, I don’t know. If he won it? I’d be surprised but I will not be surprised if he hits the board. He’s a good horse.”

Wedlock Blue Chip has won seven of 19 lifetime races with three seconds and two thirds. He has earned more than $161,000. He won five times as a 2-year-old and is 2-for-8 this season. His two wins came in consecutive races (May 17 and 25) in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs and Harrah’s Philadelphia with Dave Miler driving

Dave Palone, the all-time winningest harness driver, said Wedlock Blue Chip is in good hands.

“Roland is a great guy,” Palone said. “He’s sharp.”

Wedlock Blue Chip was introduced to The Meadows in 2024. He won a Pennsylvania Sires Stake last season and raced at The Meadows in August.

He has paid big dividends in his two seasons.

Wedlock Blue Chip is owned by Richard Cortese, Schenectady, N.Y., and Hawk, Kannapolis, N.C. He has a lifetime mark of 1:50.3.

“His sire and dam and all involved were all money winners and had decent records,” Mallar explained.

“He’s on the smaller side. But he does what you ask. He’ll come out to work out and stop and look around sometimes. I let him go. He’ll do it on the track before he works out, too. I enjoy him.”

Down the stretch

The Meadows will have a handful of guests for its broadcast Saturday, which will be hosted by track announcer Jeff Zidek. Those who will aid Zidek include: Mike Pribozie – handicapper, founder of NAHUpicks.com and analyst for In The Money Media; Kevin Plowcha – PA-based handicapper, who covers The Meadows for NAHUpicks.com; Ashley Eisenbeil – director of marketing, Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association and host of Hot 2 Trot podcast; and Meadow Twaddle – Meadows-based digital creator and co-host of the Hot 2 Trot podcast. … Roger Huston, Hall of Fame announcer and longtime “Voice of The Meadows,” will join the show for part of the afternoon and make a special guest race-calling appearance. The broadcast begins at 11 a.m.