Duo holds ranking

Artistic Fella ($175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final) and Total Truth ($500,000 Hoosier Cup) solidified their one-two position on the Road to the Meadowlands Pace with impressive victories on Saturday night.

The time is growing short for the fine tuning of other contenders aiming for the July 8 eliminations which will determine the 10 finalist behind the gate for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 15.

"He's doing really well,” said a jubilant owner Joseph Alborano after Artistic Fella won his seventh in a row on Saturday night at the Meadowlands in 1:49.1. “But I'm not going to discount anyone. There are a lot of good horses that I haven't met yet. But I'm not afraid of them.”

It was the third winning effort with Hall of Famer Cat Manzi driving Artistic Fella. Manzi, who turned 56 on June 27, has yet to add a Pace trophy to his mantel.

It was a last minute decision by trainer George Teague Jr. to race North America Cup winner Total Truth in the two-heat Hoosier Cup but it yielded another pair of victories.

"I originally didn't like the idea of heat racing for him, but the more I thought about it I figured it would work out all right being three weeks away from the Pace,” said Teague.

Took Hanover qualified in 1:51.1 last week at the Meadowlands.

"I changed his shoes back to the way they were before he went to Canada,” said trainer Brendan Johnson. “I'll school him on Thursday (June 29) at the Meadowlands."

Fox Valley Appeal was second to Western Cyclone in the North America Cup consolation on June 17 at Woodbine.

"I'd have to say he's probably the best he's been all year,” said trainer Jeff Smith. “He's eating well, bouncing around, jumping up and down in his stall, feeling really good. I'll look to see if there's a three-year-old open this week."

LAST WEEK, EARLY LINE, HORSE, TRAINER, OWNER
1, 6-5, ARTISTIC FELLA, Steve Elliott, Joseph Alborano
2, 5-2, TOTAL TRUTH, George Teague Jr., Only Money Inc. & Teague Inc.
3, 9-2, WESTERN CYCLONE, Travis Alexander, Arlene & Jules Siegel
4, 6-1, WESTERN ACE, George Teague Jr., Teague Inc. & Kovach Stables
6, 8-1, FOX VALLEY APPEAL, Jeff Smith, Ribbonships
5, 8-1, JEREME’S JET, Tom Harmer, Genesis Racing Stable
8, 10-1, TOOK HANOVER, Brendan Johnson, Adam Victor & Son and John Fielding
7, 12-1, BONO BESTS, Ivan Sugg, Ivan Sugg & Blue Chip Partners
UNRANKED, 15-1, WESTERN GUY, Jake Huff, Stable 45, Father & Son Stable, Rosalie Huff
9, 20-1, PERFECT UNION, Jerry Silverman, Marvin Rounick

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