from Meadowlands Media Relations

Modern Art, unbeaten in his two starts this year, has been installed as the 5-2 morning favorite, leaving from the rail, in Saturday night’s seventh race, the $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands.

The 2003 Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year, I Am A Fool, is the 3-1 second choice, facing the task of overcoming post 10. Spirit Of A Shark, who also has a two-race winning streak, is rated 4-1 in the morning line from post seven.

The richest event for state-sired three-year-old pacers shares the program with its filly companion event, the $200,000 Miss New Jersey, carded as race five.

“As far as the final goes, you always hope to control the race, but it’s up to Dave [driver David Miller], and you can’t have anybody else on the sidelines dictating strategies,” said Joe Holloway, the trainer of Modern Art. “We’d like to get the jump on I Am A Fool again, but Modern Art might be better coming from off the pace. His confidence is high. It’s a good rivalry, and it’s good for the sport. Spirit Of A Shark has really improved, and I look for him to be a major factor.”

Modern Art, who has been first or second in 14 of his 15 career starts, won the Meadowlands’ premier event for two-year-olds, the $640,000 Woodrow Wilson last year. But I Am A Fool ‘s victories in the Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup as well as earnings of more than $1.1 million helped to secure him post season’s honors.

Modern Art, a son of Artsplace, has prevailed in both meetings with I Am A Fool this year. “I am very happy,” Holloway noted. “He has the foundation, and he doesn’t train that much at all at this point. I’ll probably go a mile in 2:30 with him [this] week and that’s enough. He does train better than he did as a two-year-old. He’s just a natural athlete who looks after himself.

“I didn’t have any idea he was worth the price we paid [$155,000] for him as a yearling,” said Holloway, who won the New Jersey Classic in 1995 with Jenna’s Beach Boy. “You really never know when they’re training down as two-year-olds, not until they get tired for the first time. The ones that want to do it just keep on going.”

Modern Art completed his freshman campaign with six wins and six seconds from 13 starts and banked $719,041 for the ownership of the Val D’Or Farms of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey; Milton and Martha Frank of Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Ted Gewertz of New York, New York.

The New Jersey Classic and the Miss New Jersey are the racing highlights of the Memorial Day Weekend festivities at the Meadowlands.

The holiday weekend starts off with the annual Open House in Paddock Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 29. Activities include a question and answer session with a harness trainer, horseshoeing demonstrations, industry displays, pony rides, amusement rides, carnival games, clowns, face painters, and a petting zoo. Breakfast items will be available for purchase.

The Meadowlands will be closed on Sunday, May 30 but open for a daytime program on Memorial Day, May 31, featuring the 12th annual Memorial Day Country Festival. Special entertainment includes live music by the Tim Gillis Band, the Sixth Annual WOR Chili Cook-Off and a Wild West Show. There will also be Line-dancing, pony rides, face painters, clowns and carnival games in Paddock Park. Post time is 1:10 p.m.

7th Race — $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic

PP, Horse, Drivers, Trainer, ML

1, Modern Art, David Miller, Joe Holloway, 5-2
2, All My Life, Brian Sears, Richard Banca, 12-1
3, Dr No, Cat Manzi, Ray/Larry Remmen, 15-1
4, Holborn Hanover, Jim Morrill Jr., Mark Harder, 15-1
5, Jersey Mate, Daniel Dube, Steve Elliott, 15-1
6, Pacific Renegade, Mike Lachance, Tom Fanning, 15-1
7, Spirit Of A Shark, George Brennan, Mark Kesmodel, 4-1
8, Timesareachanging, Yannick Gingras, John Bavosi, 5-1
9, Keystone Endurance, Brian Sears, Tom Haughton, 20-1
10, I Am A Fool, Ron Pierce, Brett Pelling, 3-1

Please Note: The New Jersey Racing Commission rules now permit the uncoupling of all entries in stakes races with purses of $500,000 or more.

5th Race — $200,000 Miss New Jersey

Head #, PP, Horse, Drivers, Trainer, ML

1, 6, Summery Mystery, Jim Morrill Jr., Chris Ryder, 10-1
1A, 9, Life’s Image, Yannick Gingras, Bruce Riegle, 10-1
2, 1, Female Champs, Jim Morrill Jr., GW “Buzzy” Sholty, 8-1
3, 2, Earhart Hanover, David Miller, Steve Elliott, 6-1
4, 3, BJs Sunset, Ron Pierce, Mark Harder, 3-1
5, 4, Gina Spur, David Miller, Patsy Vulcano, 15-1
6, 5, Glowing Report, George Brennan, Jerry Silverman, 7-2
7, 7, Apple Krisip, Cat Manzi, Don Swick, 9-2
8, 8, R Burning Desire, Brian Sears, Robert Baggitt Jr., 5-1
9, 10, Economic Clout, Mike Lachance, Chris Ryder, 15-1