Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Art Official Wins Meadowlands Pace

July 19, 2008

Art Official MPace Win2008

Art Official and driver Ron Pierce bested Somebeachsomewhere just a few steps from the finish line to win the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace in a world record for 3-year-olds in 1:47. It was only a fifth of a second off the all-age world record race mile.

Art Official was first to the lead at the 26-second first quarter. Bullville Powerful was up to challenge at about the three eighths with Somebeachsomewhere (Paul MacDonell) going three-wide down the backstretch in a half mile that was accomplished in :51.4.

Clearing to the lead past the half, Somebeachsomewhere held that lead through the three quarters in 1:19.1, with MacDonell shaking the lines at the son of Mach Three. When the field turned for home, Art Official was off the rail and in overdrive to get first to Somebeachsomewhere’s wheel and then to pull almost even with him about 100 feet from the wire. In the last few strides he stuck a neck in front for the win.

“The horse has a great trainer,” said winning driver Ron Pierce. “I knew with any kind of trip, and if I could find the wood, he’d be that much better this week. “I didn’t want Somebeach to get away and someone had to take it to him, and it was up to me and Yannick (driver of Bullville Powerful, who was inside Somebeachsomewhere at the half)," he added. "I felt confident in the stretch; he swelled up and tipped, the question was to catch Somebeach. I gave him a lick at the 16th and he took off.”

Asked if he felt good about beating Somebeachsomewhere, Pierce said, “No, I feel mixed emotions because he is a great colt, but I had to do my job and the value of my colt just skyrocketed."

Art Official was second to Somebeachsomewhere in last week’s elimination race after racing on the outside much of the mile. Asked what he was thinking when he saw Somebeachsomewhere three-wide at the half, Pierce replied, “I was thinking that was what we wanted to happen.” “Yannick left me out longer than I wanted past the half,” said MacDonell. “In the stretch I still had a lot of horse, I give him all the credit and Art Official all the credit.” Share The Delight (John Campbell) was third.

Art Official is trained by Joe Seekman and owned by Jim Jesk of Lockport, Illinois. A crowd of 16,907 attended on Meadowlands Pace night and $740,434 was wagered on the race from all sources.

MPace08

$1.1 Million Meadowlands Pace The Meadowlands--Race Eight July 19, 2008
PP Horse                          Driver
6 Art Offical                       Ron Pierce
2 Somebeachsomewhere    Paul Macdonell
1 Share The Delight           John Campbell
5 Mucho Sleazy                  David Miller
3 Sand Shooter                  Tim Tetrick
9 Tiz A Masterpiece             Andy Miller
8 Badlands Nitro                 Brian Sears
4 Atochia                           Jim Morrill, Jr.
7 Bullville Powerful             Yannick Gingras
:26      :51.4      1:19.1      1:47
(W-P-S Pool $350,603)
$2 Exacta (Pool $183,588) (6-2) $77.20
$1 Trifecta (Pool $206,242) (6-2-1) $258.00