Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Artistic Fella Wins $175,000 NJSS Championship

Artistic Fella wins for Cat Manzi Saturday at The Big M

June 24, 2006

Artistic Fella extended his winning streak to seven with a victory in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Saturday night at the Meadowlands in a New Jersey Sire Stakes record and lifetime best of 1:49.1. The winner of the Suslow and Berry’s Creek Finals is being pointed toward the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

“Every time I race him, he gets better and better,” said Cat Manzi, who has driven the son of Pacific Fella in his last three starts. “He’s become a wonderful horse. The weather didn’t affect him. Nothing seems to bother him anymore. He does what I want him to do. If I want to leave, he leaves. If I want to take him off the pace, he does. I love him!”

Manzi put 1-5 favorite Artistic Fella on the lead off the gate, and they drew off in the stretch to a three and three-quarter-length victory over Feelin Friskie, with Pownal Bay Matt third.

“It’s like a dream, and you just hope it keeps going,” said winning trainer Steve Elliott. “Next week he’ll be off, and then it is the Pace elims [on July 8].”

Artistic Fella has earned $396,560 for owner Joseph Alborano of New Egypt, New Jersey, with seven wins in 11 starts this year and 10 wins in 15 career outings. His seven-race winning streak began on April 21 in the $72,770 Suslow Final at the Meadowlands. He added the $225,000 Berry’s Creek Final on May 6 and swept all three of his preliminary legs of the New Jersey Sires Stakes.

$175,000 NJSS Championship The Meadowlands Saturday, June 24, 2006
PP Horse                 Driver
5 Artistic Fella            Cat Manzi
2 Feelin Friskie           Jeff Gregory
4 Pownal Bay Matt      St Bouchard
3 Green Sign             Richard Silverman
7 Manhardt                Mark Kesmodel
6 J K CU Later           Brett Miller
1 Artstanding             Tony Morgan
26.4    54.3   1:22.    1:49.1