Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Haughton Field Now Set

July 5, 2007

On the same night the field will be decided for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, the 2006 champion will face his biggest test against older horses in the $650,000 William R. Haughton Memorial on Saturday night.

Artistic Fella, who counted the Meadowlands Pace among his 11 victories at three, will take on 2006 Older Pacer of the Year Lis Mara and eight other rivals in Saturday's race. The Haughton is slated as race eight [post time: 9:49 p.m.] and shares the spotlight with the elims for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.

Artistic Fella and Lis Mara each won their Haughton elimination last week and, with it, the right to select their post positions for the final. Driver Brian Sears and trainer Erv Miller chose post two for Lis Mara, who is rated the 7-5 morning line favorite, while Cat Manzi and Steve Elliott opted for post three with Artistic Fella, the 4-1 second choice.

Artistic Fella breezed to a 1:49.2 victory in his Haughton elimination, holding off JK CU Later by a length and a half for his fourth win in nine starts this season.

"I just wanted to keep everybody honest there at first," Manzi said of the race. "It set up so that I could line them up they way it needed to be done. It was his first start on Lasix and I didn't want tot overdo it, so I let him kind of loaf along and he sprinted home real good. He got lazy three down by the wire, which he'll do if he's by himself. [Lis Mara] was impressive. There have been a couple of races where [Artistic Fella] hasn't been at his best, but Steve [Elliott] is right on top of that stuff and I have no worries. I'm first or second best."

A $13,000 yearling buy, Artistic Fella has earned $1.2 million for trainer Steve Elliott and owner Joseph Alborano of New Egypt, New Jersey. He banked $941,385 as a three-year-old and was first or second in 12 of 18 starts last year. This season, his victories include the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park and a Classic Series division at Mohawk. If Artistic Fella wins on Saturday night, he would be the first Meadowlands Pace champion in 17 years to take the Haughton. Matt's Scooter was the last in 1989.

After two consecutive losses, his only of the season, Lis Mara rebounded with a 1:47.4 win in his Haughton elimination last Saturday. The 2006 Older Pacer of the Year has won five of seven this season, including the $285,000 Graduate Final at the Meadowlands. Lifetime, he has banked $1.4 million for trainer Erv Miller and owners MJG Racing Stable and Louis Willinger.

"The last couple of races, he had us a little bit nervous," said Lis Mara's co-owner, Mike Gulotta. "He was sick with allergies and mucous. The vet cleared it up and he's back to himself. You know what, if you don't lose, than you don't enjoy the winning."