Artzina and Yankee Skyscaper are among the 15 colts that have been entered in Saturday’s eliminations for the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic, the sport’s richest event for state-bred horses, at the Meadowlands.
The top five finishers in each $25,000 elimination advance to the $500,000 final on Saturday, June 2. Artzina and Yankee Skyscaper will square off in the first elimination, race two, starting from posts three and seven, respectively. Artzina, the 2006 Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, won seven of 13 starts last year for trainer Dylan Davis. His biggest win was a 1:52.1 effort in the $221,176 Matron final at Yankee Skyscaper was the leading money-winner in his freshman class with $545,000 earned. He counted the $900,000 Metro among his four victories for trainer Chris Ryder. Bred by Yankeeland Farms, he is owned by a partnership that includes Brittany Farms, Myron and Stephanie Bell, John Fodera, Martha Frank and Fred Mansoor. Both Artzina and Yankee Skyscaper are eligible to the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday, July 14. Six New Jersey Classic champions have used a win in the New Jersey Classic as a stepping stone to a Meadowlands Pace victory: Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), Presidential Ball (1993), Dexter Nukes (1989), Matt’s Scooter (1988) and On The Road Again (1984). Three New Jersey Classic runners-up have also won the Meadowlands Pace: Hot Lead (1996), Carlsbad Cam (1992) and Precious Bunny (1991). The fields for the Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic Eliminations (driver changes to be announced Wednesday): Race 2: 1 Ghee's House, Yannick Gingras
2 Watta Hotshot, John Campbell
3 Artzina, John Campbell
4 Art At Heart, Andy Miller
5 Red Hot Yankee, George Brennan
6 Fresh Deck, George Brennan
7 Yankee Skyscaper, George Brennan
8 Western Smoocher, Daniel Dube.
Race 3: 1 Kinetic Yankee, Andy Miller
2 Artist's View, Daniel Dube
3 Radio City, Yannick Gingras
4 TJ's Ideal, Brian Sears
5 Always A Virgin, Brian Sears
6 Friday Nite Lights, John Campbell
7 Artriverderci, Brian Sears.
(Meadowlands)
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