Artistic Fella wins NJSS

Artistic Fella lowered his lifetime mark to 1:49.2 as he rolled to his fifth straight victory in a $72,700 New Jersey Sire Stakes division on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Cat Manzi, Artistic Fella made the top past the opening quarter and easily repelled all challengers as he drew off to a four-length win victory over J K CU Later in the evening’s second race for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. It was another quarter-length back to Pownal Bay Matt in third.

“He was great,” said Manzi, who had driven the colt early in his 3-year-old season. “This was a horse I gave up on. He turned himself around and I was given a second chance. I am thrilled to have him back [tonight]. He was perfect.”

Artistic Fella, who entered Saturday’s race off a three-week layoff, counts the Berry’s Creek and Robert J. Suslow among his five victories this season. Trainer Steve Elliott and owner Joseph Alborano of New Egypt, New Jersey are aiming the colt for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

“He hadn’t raced in three weeks, so you worry about how fast he’s going to go,” Elliott said. “He seems like he just keeps getting better all the time. I’m just lucky to have him in the barn. He’ll go in the Meadowlands Pace, hopefully. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope we can keep him healthy till then, and maybe we’ll have a shot at it.”

Artistic Fella now has five wins in nine tries this year, eight of 13 starts lifetime.

(Meadowlands release)

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