Mucho Sleazy, Art Official favorites in Berry's Creek elims

Shortly after the dust settles in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, harness racing's 3-year-old colts start their stakes season in the eliminations for the $225,000(est.) Berry's Creek at the Meadowlands, with Mucho Sleazy and Art Official installed the morning-line choices in their respective splits by track handicapper Dave Brower.

Two $25,000 eliminations will decide the finalists in the first major event for sophomore pacing colts this year. The top five finishers in each elimination advance to the $225,000 final on Saturday, May 10.

Mucho Sleazy, winner of the American National at two, headlines the first elimination and deeper of the two fields. Trained by Ken Rucker, Mucho Sleazy hit the board in 14 of 17 starts and earned $184,146 in 2007. The son of Sportsmaster is owned and bred by Marty Engel of Buffalo Grove, Ill. Mucho Sleazy is rated the 2-1 morning line favorite from post one in the second race. Andy Miller has the driving assignment.

His competition includes Pennsylvania standout Blueridge Western, winner of seven of 13 races and $166,036 last year. The Mickey Burke trainee won an International Stallion Stake division at The Red Mile and was third in a Goshen Cup split at the Meadowlands. He is listed at 7-2 from post six with Brian Sears in the sulky.

Chicago invader Art Official is the 9-5 standout in the second elimination. He will start from post four with Tyler Buter at the lines. Art Official is two-for-two this season and enters the Berry's Creek off a sharp 1:51.4 score at Balmoral Park. Although he was winless in 15 starts at two, Art Official earned more than $100,000 while picking up checks in the Breeders Crown, American National and International Stallion Stake. Joe Seekman trains the son of Art Major, who was a bargain $10,000 purchase at the Tattersalls Mixed Sale in January 2006 at the Meadowlands.

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