Despite the absence of one of harness racing’s fastest and most decorated horses, Saturday’s $375,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at the Meadows in Washington is shaping up to be a competitive race.

Papi Rob Hanover was the likely favorite after setting a world record (1:47.1) for 3-year-old colts on a five-eighths mile track in one of the three $25,000 Adios elimination races at the Meadows last weekend.

However, he was withdrawn from Saturday’s final with what owner David McDuffie said was a stress fracture in his left front leg.

“It was a shock for sure,” said Jeff Zidek, the lead racing announcer at the Meadows who called Papi Rob Hanover’s record-setting win.

“It’s disappointing because we all saw the same thing that he was not tested in the eliminations. He could’ve gone faster. We could’ve very easily seen the first sub-1:47 this Saturday. That’s not to say the other horses couldn’t do it, but he would’ve been the most likely one to break his own record.”

McDuffee said Papi Rob Hanover, runner-up in a close Meadowlands Pace final July 18, will not race again this year.

“I don’t think his injury happened at The Meadows,” he said. “I believe it occurred in the Meadowlands Pace when he hopped for a moment and David (Miller) had to take hold of him. If he’d shown any signs of injury, we wouldn’t have raced him at The Meadows. You saw how easily he won his elimination.”

The representatives for the nine horses in the field, led by the other elimination winners Catch the Fire and The Greek Freak, drew their post positions Tuesday. Catch the Fire will start at post 3, while The Greek Freak owns post 4.

The top three from each of the three elimination heats earned a spot in the final. Captain Barbossa moved into the field in place of Papi Rob Hanover based on having the highest career earnings among the three horses that finished fourth in the eliminations.

Saturday’s Adios final goes off as race 15 with an approximate post time of 4:02 p.m. Because of the ongoing covid-19 safety restrictions, there will be no spectators permitted in the stands. Races can be viewed on The Meadows website at www.meadowsgaming.com/racing.

Of the $375,000 purse, 50% is paid to the winner, and 25% goes to the runner-up. The top five earn prize money.

Mike Wilder, a Washington resident, is a regular driver at The Meadows. He normally races four days a week on the track with a typical docket of 50 races in those days.

He seeks his first win in an Adios Pace for the Orchids final after a previous best of fourth place on three occasions.

Wilder, 48, picked up his third all-time elimination win last weekend with Catch the Fire.

“This is the premier race of the year at our racetrack, and everyone wants to be in the final,” Wilder said. “I know I have a pretty good horse in the race. I raced him last year, and he did very well. I am really looking forward to Saturday.”

Brian Sears, a three-time Adios champion, drove Southwind Ozzi to the win last year in a time of 1:48. He also won in 2010 (Delmarvelous, 1:49.4) and 2001 (Pine Valley, 1:51.4).

Sears, 52, will drive Captain Barbossa, trained by Tony Alagna, from post 8 Saturday.

Another driver with veteran Adios experience, Wilke-Barre’s Matt Kakaley, will steer The Greek Freak.

“I am confident in the horse, and with Ron Burke, he’s the leading trainer in the country. I am really looking forward to Saturday,” he said.

Kakaley, 32, was the winning driver in the 2018 final as Dursoduro Hanover crossed the finish line in 1:50.1. The victory for Kakaley came just four months after he suffered serious facial injuries in an on-track accident during a race at Yonkers (N.Y.) Raceway.

“That was a big win for me coming back after I healed up,” Kakaley said.

Miller will drive Later Dudes from post 1 Saturday. He won the Adios in 2008, the only time the race was not held at The Meadows.

Miller, controlling Shadow Play, was victorious in the 42nd edition at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre.

The move was necessitated because of construction work for the new Meadows racing facility and casino.

Burke and Alagna each will be represented by three horses in the Adios.

The field for the 54th Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids

Post position and horse, trainer, driver

1. Later Dudes, Brian Brown, David Miller

2. Capt Midnight, Tony Alagna, Andrew McCarthy

3. Catch The Fire, John Ackley, Mike Wilder

4. The Greek Freak, Ron Burke, Matt Kakaley

5. No Lou Zing, Nancy Takter, Josert Fonseca

6. Sweet Truth, Ron Burke, Yannick Gingras

7. Chief Mate, Tony Alagna, Scott Zeron

8. Captain Barbossa, Tony Alagna, Brian Sears

9. Elver Hanover, Ron Burke, Chris Page

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