Even-money favorite Artistic Fella showed why he’s the top-ranked horse in North America last night, capturing his ninth-straight victory in the $1M Meadowlands Pace by 11/4 lengths over My Boy David in 1:48 4/5. Armbro Deuce was third.
Trained by Steve Elliott and driven by Cat Manzi, Artistic Fella took the lead approaching the half in :53 1/5.
“When they settled in at the quarter and started to go slow, it set up perfect for me to move to the front, and I really thought it was about over once I did that,” Manzi said.
Approaching the three-quarter pole, Took Hanover (14-1) took a shot at Artistic Fella, to no avail.
“When you’re the favorite going into it, you’re going to get shots taken at you, but the horse toughed it out and got the job done,” Elliott said.
In deep stretch, Manzi kept Artistic Fella about his business to give the Hall of Fame driver his first Pace victory in 10 tries. It was also Elliott’s first Pace win in three attempts.
“I did get after him a little to make sure he got it done,” Manzi said. “I really don’t think they can beat him without something unusual happening. I have a lot of confidence in him and the day he gets beat, it’s gonna surprise me.” Artistic Fella paid $4.00 to win.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer had three colts in the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old trotters and when they hit the wire, they owned the tote board with Mr Pine Chip getting the lion’s share in a record-setting 1:52. Blue Mac Lad was a neck back in second and Here Comes Herbie was third.
Mr Pine Chip, the 1-5 favorite, and driver Brian Sears were content to sit back and let stablemate Blue Mac Lad cut the fractions until the top of the lane when Mr Pine Chip moved strongly down the center of the track to score the victory.
“This was my first experience behind Mr Pine Chip,” Sears said. “I heard a lot about him and he lived up to everything I was told.” Mr Pine Chip returned $2.60 to win.
The $650,000 William Haughton Memorial final went to 3-1 second choice Leading X Ample by a neck over 5-2 favorite Ponder in 1:48 2/5. Hop Sing finished third.
Making a three-wide move at three quarters, Leading X Ample ($8.80), driven by David Miller, was only a length back at the top of the lane as he continued his assault and got the better of Ponder at the wire.
