Artistic Fella in NJSS

Artistic Fella looks for his fifth straight win Saturday night as he continues on the path to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace for trainer Steve Elliott and owner Joseph Alborano.

The multiple stakes winner is rated as the prohibitive 4-5 morning line favorite from post four in the evening's second race, a $72,700 division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. A $13,000 yearling purchase, Artistic Fella began his winning streak with the $72,770 Robert J. Suslow on April 21 at the Meadowlands. He went on to capture the $25,000 prep race and $225,000 final of the Berry's Creek, the first major test of the season for the sophomore class, along with the $37,850 opening round of the NJSS. The colt was not eligible to last week's $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello/SBOA New Jersey Classic, the sport's richest event for statebreds.

"He trained super on Saturday," said Elliott, whose top pacing trainees included 2000 New Jersey Classic winner Riverboat King. "He just seems to be getting better and stronger. He's handier, and I think he's faster (than Riverboat King). Riverboat King came home in 26 seconds regularly, too, but this colt does it regardless of the trip. I haven't seen anyone out there yet that he can't go with."

Cat Manzi picks up the drive behind Artistic Fella on Saturday while the colt's regular partner, Ron Pierce, travels to Woodbine for the Burlington Stakes. Manzi drove Artistic Fella in his first two starts of the year.

"I drove him early on but he wasn't ready," Manzi said. "You could see he was getting there, but he wasn't quick enough yet. I'm glad to get another opportunity. I've seen his races lately and he's real sharp right now."

In 1998, Manzi drove the colt's sire, Pacific Fella, to victories in the Graduate, Classic Series and William R. Haughton Memorial during his outstanding five-year-old season.

"He was one of the greatest horses I've ever driven," Manzi said of Pacific Fella. "It didn't make any difference with him what you wanted to do or what kind of trip. Front or back, it didn't matter with him. He was a versatile, strong horse." (Meadowlands)

« Back