Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Cactus Creek wins $300,000 Adios

Driver Mike Lachance steers Cactus Creek to victory in the
40th Adios Pace Saturday at The Meadows Raceway.

August 12, 2006

When relative longshot Cactus Creek captured the Adios Saturday, it was the first win in the “Pace for the Orchids” for Chicago-based trainer Erv Miller, and the third for driver Mike Lachance. The son of Artsplace, owned by Brittany Farms, Val D’or Farms and Stanley Friedman, qualified for the final with a second place finish behind True North Hanover in the third elimination with John Campbell in the bike. When Campbell opted for New Jersey Classic winner Feelin Friskie in the final, Mike Lachance picked up the drive.

Lachance kept Cactus Creek well back and covered up on the rail during the early going, and steadily worked his way up, finding room to charge up the passing lane in the stretch. He won by a half length in 1:50.2 at odds of 20-1. He outfinished Western Ace and Brian Sears, who were mounting the same kind of move on the outside, while Total Truth, who sat second before claiming the lead in the stretch, held third. True North Hanover, who cut the mile, held on for fourth.

“Cactus Creek needs a good trip,” said Erv Miller. “He doesn’t take air very well. John gave him a good trip in the elim, and Mike gave him a perfect trip here. He gets brave that way.
We’ve only had him in the barn a couple of months, but we’ve had time to figure him out pretty well. He’s pretty much a small track horse.”

Lachance won the Adios in 1996 with Electric Yankee and again in 1998 with Artist Stena. He was listed on only one other Adios horse today, Gimmebackmybullets, who failed to advance out of the third elim.

“I was sitting seventh on the rail,” said Lachance. “Then things started to open up on the inside. I had a ton of horse and I knew those on the front end had had enough. I never left the rail.”

Cactus Creek boosted his lifetime earnings to $221,139 with the Adios victory. Miller, who in 2005 was voted Trainer of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association, said the Jug Preview at Scioto Downs and the Little Brown Jug were possibilities for Cactus Creek in upcoming weeks.

Western Ace nabs the first Adios elim
in 1:51.2 with Brian Sears at the lines.

First Adios Elimination The Meadows Saturday, August 12, 2006
PP Horse                Driver
5 Western Ace          Brian Sears
4 Texas Shootout      Dave Palone
3 Feelin Friskie         John Campbell
1:51.2

Sandro Hanover takes second Adios
Elim for Dave Palone in 1:51.3

Second Adios Elimination The Meadows Saturday, August 12, 2006
PP Horse                Driver
1 Sandro Hanvoer   Dave Palone
5 Total Truth            Ron Pierce
2 Manhardt              George Brennan
1:51.3

True North Hanover nails Third Adios
Elim in 1:50.4 for Dave Palone.

Third Adios Elimination The Meadows Saturday, August 12, 2006
PP Horse                          Driver
3 True North Hanover         Dave Palone
2 Cactus Creek                  John Campbell
4 Perfect Union                   David Miller
1:50.4