By DEBORAH A. LITTLE
Posted: 4:16 am
July 20, 2008
The hottest thing at the Meadowlands last night wasn't the weather. It was Art Official, who captured the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace in a world-record 1:47.
Trained by Joe Seekman and driven by Hall of Famer Ron Pierce, Art Official (11-1) had the lead as the field passed the quarter in :26 then yielded to 1-9 favorite Somebeachsomewhere.
In order to get the lead, Somebeachsomewhere had to go three-wide, and that may have been his undoing as Art Official launched a challenge in the lane and got up to score the neck victory. Share The Delight was third.
"I drove my horse the way he felt, and he felt very good, so I drove him accordingly," Pierce said.
The 1:47 clocking made Art Official the fastest 3-year-old pacer of all time. He paid $25.80 to win.
The $100,000 Meadowlands Pace consolation was won in upset fashion by Mystery Chase (18-1) and the Meadowlands' top driver, Brian Sears.
Mystery Chase scored a neck win over Moon Beam in 1:49 2/5. Blueridge Western finished third. Mystery Chase returned $39.60 to win.
