Wrenn Jr. will drive Melillo in the Adios instead of Loua Dipa
Despite having drawn post #9, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive Melillo in the Grade 1, $420,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Saturday afternoon.
Wrenn Jr. drove filly Loua Dipa in last week’s elimination race when The Adios first filly entrant since 1969 faded to fourth, enough to qualify for this week’s final, however.
Wrenn Jr. has been Loua Dipa’s driver for many of her races the past two years.
Post time for The Adios card is 11:30 a.m.
The Adios will air on CBS Sports Network from 5-6pm Eastern Time on Saturday. The Adios will be the final race on the 16-race card.
Attempts to reach Wrenn Jr. Thursday were not successful. Mark Weaver, one of the owners of both horses explained the change to Melillo.
“I think (Melillo) is as good as any of them,” Weaver said. “The post isn’t ideal, but I would assume Ronnie’s going to put him in play. (Melillo) is as talented as any of them for sure.
“If (Loua Dipa) was 100 percent, I would assume Ronnie (Wrenn) would be driving her. She’s battling some things and Ronnie (Burke) thinks he can have her good by Saturday. All things considered, Ronnie Burke just figured to put Ronnie Wrenn on Melillo and put a different driver (Mike Wilder) on Loua Dipa.”
Wilder, who has an Adios winning drive to his credit (2020) is happy to have a catch drive.
“I think it’s a wide-open race,” Wilder said. “Don’t get me wrong, there are some horses that stand out in there, but you know, there’s no sure thing.
“I think it’s going to be a trippy race. I think it’s going to be who gets the trip in that race. You could look at that book 1,000 times and then you see how it sets up on race day. You just don’t know how it’s going to go. I think it’s who gets the trip is going to win.”
Wilder added Loua Dipa has proven herself.
“She’s proved herself to be a world-class filly and anything can happen,” he added. “I’m very grateful to get the opportunity with her and see what happens.”
Al Papi enters the final as a favorite. Driver Yannick Gingras is focused on his improving pacer.
“I knew I would be in a good spot,” he said post #4. “I am in a good spot. We must hope the horse shows up the way he showed up last week.
“He’s been good. The horse has been sharp. He’s been knocking at the door. Last week was his best performance of the year, but it wasn’t a much better performance. If he comes back, the way he was his last few starts, I think he would be good to go. Nothing really has changed.”
Dexter Dunn will drive Another C Note.
Last Saturday, Andrew and Todd McCarthy were unable to make it to The Meadows for the elimination races because of travel issues and gave up their drives. However, both will be back in the bike behind the horses they were originally supposed to pilot a week ago. Andrew will drive Treacherous Lou and Todd, who is going for his third straight Adios title, will sit behind Toast of The Town.
Adioo Volo
Sixteen fillies will go to post in the two-division Adioo Volo, with two eight-horse fields — each going for a purse of $64,052. The purse includes $15,000 in supplemental entry fees.
Miss Jum Jabber and Be Perfect BG were not originally paid into the stake, but their connections opted to pay the $7,500 supplemental entry fee.
The Adioo Volo fields are:
Race 14 (from the rail out) Spoon Fed – Doug Snyder – Dave Palone at (12-1), Topville Lucky – Andrew Harris – Dexter Dunn at (5-2), Seaside Shuffle – Burke – Wrenn Jr. at (6-1), Real Fast – Ron Burke – Tim Tetrick at (8-1),
Shacarri – Burke – Yannick Gingras at (5-1), Miss Jum Jabber – Brett Pelling – Andrew McCarthy at (3-1), Robins Song – Dan Altmeyer – Wilder at (12-1) and Say Goodnight – Nick Devita – Scott Zeron at (10-1).
In Race 15, Barbuda Belle – Burke – Wrenn Jr (at 6-1), A Rich Girl – Linda Toscano – Scott Zeron (15-1), Perfect Thought – Tim Twaddle – James MacDonald (6-1), Naughty Beauty – Andrew Harris – Todd McCarthy (7-1),’I’m A Lou Lou – Ron Burke – Tim Tetrick (7-2), Be Perfect BG – Anthony Beaton – Dexter Dunn (8-5), Laude Da – Ron Burke – Yannick Gingras (12-1), Make It Right – Jim King Jr – Andrew McCarthy (20-1).