Trainer Jimmy Takter will be gunning for back-to-back Adios titles following his victory last year with Vintage Master as he sends forth Meadowlands Pace elimination winner Rockin Image in Saturday's eliminations at The Meadows

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Owned by Lothlorien of Cheltenham, ON, Rockin Image has banked $133,407 of his $420,711 bankroll this year. The Rocknroll Hanover-Kikikatie colt has drawn Post 4 in the first of three elims, which will be held Saturday afternoon, July 24, with the top three finishers from each advancing to the final the following Saturday afternoon. The eliminations will go as Races 9, 10 and 11 on the July 24 card, with Race 9 post time at approximately 3:25 p.m.

We Will See, winner of more than $500,000 lifetime and undefeated at The Meadows, and Versado, a colt purchased for the express purpose of winning the “Pace for the Orchids,” also head a deep, accomplished field of 22 three-year-old colts and geldings who will contest the $700,000 Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows.

We Will See, a son of Western Hanover-Aberdakara, finished a close second in the final of the North America Cup and a narrowly beaten third in the Rooney. Just as importantly, he has excelled at The Meadows, capturing three stakes in as many tries.

“He likes The Meadows, and so do I,” said Sam DePinto, who trains We Will See for Shannon DePinto and Earl Smith. We Will See drew the rail in Race 9.

Trainer Ron Burke privately acquired Versado several weeks ago, hoping that the gelded son of Dragon Again-Beach Jenny would repeat the feat of May June Character, who won the 2007 Adios for the Burke stable. In his first start for new owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold, Versado handily won a Pennsylvania Sires Stake division in 1:50.3. Versado leaves from Post 5 in Race 10.

Another acclaimed colt in the field is Valentino, who fell only 1-1/4 lengths short in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace while finishing third ahead of Rockin Image.

The Burke stable has three entrants, including Blue Rock and Fishers Character, a full brother to May June Character. Trainers George Teague, Jr. (Delmarvalous, Im Gorgeous), Jimmy Takter (Rockin Image, Golden Time) and Luis Pena (Valentino, Nova Artist), each has a pair of Adios hopefuls, as do owners Peter Pan Stables (Pang Shui, Europan Union) and Brittany Farms (Foreign Officer, Golden Time).

Among Adios contenders with local connections, the most interesting may be Jonesie Hanover, a full brother to 2005 Little Brown Jug Winner P Forty Seven. Dan Altmeyer trains the son of The Panderosa-Cohiba Mary and owns with Murray Brown, Richard Kelson and Jack Piatt II.

The Adios eliminations, in post position order and with trainers and morning line odds:

Race 9
1. We Will See - Sam DePinto - 5-2
2. Bombastic - Troy McDougal - 6-1
3. Fishers Character - Ron Burke - 5-1
4. Rockin Image - Jimmy Takter - 7-5
5. Delmarvalous - George Teague, Jr. - 4-1
6. Europan Union - Matthew Cox - 8-1
7. Shoobees Place - Steven Bryden - 8-1

Race 10
1. Art Professor - Steve Elliott - 8-1
2. Outrageous Art - Mark Steacy - 7-2
3. Im Gorgeous - George Teague, Jr. - 4-1
4. Golden Time - Jimmy Takter - 6-1
5. Versado - Ron Burke - 5-2
6. TSM Ryans Dragon - Jan Fread - 8-1
7. Nova Artist - Luis Pena - 5-1

Race 11

1. Tobago Cays - Jeffrey Webster - 10-1
2. Jonesie Hanover - Dan Altmeyer - 8-1
3. Trick Man - Ray Paver - 10-1
4. Pang Shui - Ray Schnittker - 6-1
5. Valentino - Luis Pena - 5-2
6. Blue Rock - Ron Burke - 9-2
7. Whackamole Hanover - Tim Pinske - 8-1
8. Foreign Officer - Tony Alagna - 7-2

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino features a $75,000 Cash Drawing on Saturday, July 24 at 9 p.m.

(With files from The Meadows)