Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Meadowlands Pace Field Decided

July 8, 2006

Longshot Perfect Union and favorite Artistic Fella each won a $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination Saturday night for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

Artistic Fella, driven by Cat Manzi and trained by Steve Elliott, extended his winning streak to eight with a sizzling 1:48.4 mile in the second of the two events. He scored a three-quarter-length victory over Real Mean Art with Took Hanover third. Also earning spots in the final were My Boy David and Western Ace.

“He’s just a good horse and he shows it every time he goes out there,” said Manzi. “For a second, I thought they were going to get to him but he’s a little special and he knew what he had to do.”

Artistic Fella, who began his winning streak in the Suslow Final on April 21 and also won the finals of the Berry’s Creek and New Jersey Sire Stakes, pushed his career bankroll over the $400,000 mark for owner Joseph Alborano of New Egypt, New Jersey. The son of Pacific Fella has now won eight of 12 starts this year and 11 of 16 lifetime.

In the first division Perfect Union scored a length and a half victory over Armbro Deuce with Total Truth, the North America Cup and Hoosier Cup winner, third by a length and a half. Dave Panlone and Shark Gesture picked up fourth and fifth money to advance to the final. Perfect Union, who paced a lifetime best 1:49 flat, lit up the tote board with payoffs of $103.20, $39.80, $5.80.

“I just wanted to leave and get close,” said David Miller, who piloted Perfect Union to his second win in six starts this year. “I figured Ronnie [Pierce with Total Truth] would come or the one horse, Jereme’s Jet, but he was on the lead and felt good and nobody challenged him. I was surprised. I didn’t know how game he’d be on the lead. He raced great.”

Perfect Union, who is trained by Jerry Silverman, races in the name of Marvin Rounick of Narberth, Pennsylvania, for whom he has earned $260,279.

$50,000 Meadowlands Pace Elim The Meadowlands: Race 7 Saturday, July 8, 2006
PP Horse                Driver
7 Perfect Union         David Miller
4 Armbro Deuce      George Brennan
2 Total Truth            Ron Pierce
8 Dave Panlone       Dave Palone
3 Shark Gesture     Brian Sears
:27.1      :54.4      1:22      1:49

$50,000 Meadowlands Pace Elim The Meadowlands: Race 8 Saturday, July 8, 2006
PP Horse                 Driver
6 Artistic Fella           Cat Manzi
2 Real Mean Art        Yannick Gingras
9 Took Hanover         John Campbell
1 My Boy David         David Miller
3 Western Ace           Ron Pierce
:26.2      :53.1      1:21      1:48.4