Art Official to face 10 others in $150,000 Monument Circle

Sawgrass Farms’ Art Official has drawn post four in the inaugural $150,000 Monument Circle at Indiana Downs, slated for the 11th race Saturday evening, August 2. The Art Major colt will be joined by 10 other sophomore pacers, including several local horses. The stake will be bookended by two $75,000 divisions of the Elevation for freshman pacing colts.

Making his first start since an electrifying upset of Somebeachsomewhere in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace, Art Official will attempt to collect his seventh seasonal win. Trainer Joe Seekman has listed Ron Pierce to drive. Pierce guided the millionaire in his world record 1:47 effort July 19 at the Meadowlands.

I Scoot Hanover offspring Robin I Scoot and Freddyscooter will challenge Art Official. Robin I Scoot, a two-time Indiana Sires Stakes champion and winner in 1:52, has drawn post eight for trainer and co-owner Dan Perdue. Regular driver Don Irvine Jr. will guide the winner of more than $212,000. Freddyscooter, coming off a 1:51.2 upset of Robin I Scoot in ISS action, will start from post seven.  The gelding is trained by Steve Brannan and will be driven by Brad Hanners.

Trainer Erv Miller will send out two starters in the Monument Circle. Genuwine, a winner of more than $164,000 as a freshman, is slotted in post 10. The Cam’s Card Shark colt has a 1:51.2 victory to his credit this season, and has taken a mark of 1:50.2. Hey Mister DJ, the other half of the entry, did not race at two. The son of Western Ideal has claimed victory in four of six starts this season, taking a mark of 1:51.1.

Other sophomores entered include Vette Man, a five-time winner this season with a 1:51.2 mark, and Corner Blitz, a Pro Bono Best colt that won in 1:51.3 earlier this summer.

Suprizemeagain, the nation’s fastest freshman pacing colt with a 1:52.1 clocking, heads a group of 15 slated to compete in two Elevation divisions Saturday night. The son of Western Hero, undefeated in four starts for trainer Shawn Nessa, will start from post three in the eight-horse first division. Trace Tetrick, who guided Suprizemeagain to a Hoosier Park track record, will be in the bike.

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