by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Artcotic, the New Jersey Sires Stakes champion at Freehold last year, will attempt to repeat in the $85,000 final for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (October 13) at Freehold Raceway.

The daughter of Artiscape–Pumped has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the seventh race feature. She will leave from post three with Stephen Smith driving. The George Teague, Jr. trainee is the richest of the New Jersey Sires Stakes finalists with career earnings of $278,386.

Purchased for only $5,000 at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale, Artcotic races in the name of Rodney Mitchell Inc. of Dover, Del. and Montrell Teague of Harrington, Del.

At 2, the filly won five of seven starts, including the Freehold final of the New Jersey Sires Stakes on September 9. She was also voted 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year by the New Jersey Sires Stakes Board of Trustees.

In 2007, she has finished first or second in 10 of 14 starts for earnings of more than $182,000. Her six wins include the $72,515 Helen Dancer Final at Freehold, a division of the Reynolds at Pocono Downs, and, in her career mark of 1:51, the Valley Forge at Harrah’s Chester.

In 11 New Jersey Sires Stakes appearances over her two-year career, she has seven victories.

Artcotic shares the New Jersey Sires Stakes record at Freehold for 3-year-old pacing fillies of 1:53.1 with another of this year’s finalists, Lightning D Dube, as well as JK Songndance, who set the mark in 2005.

Five of the eight finalists (Lightning D Dube, Phyleon, Pop Diva, Platinum Hanover and Wild Ride Hanover) are daughters of Western Ideal. Other stallions represented are Artsplace (Ozmopolitan), Artiscape (Artcotic) and Dream Away (Spring Break).

The field for the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 3-year-old pacing fillies (from the rail out with driver, trainer and morning line odds): Lightning D Dube, Glenn Berger, Anthony Mannino, 4-1; Ozmopolitan, David Miller, Monte Gelrod, 6-1; Artcotic, Steve Smith, George Teague, Jr., 2-1; Pop Diva, Yannick Gingras, Noel Daley, 8-1; Platinum Hanover, Cat Manzi, Chris Ryder, 5-1; Spring Break, George Brennan, Randy Beeckman, 10-1; Phyleon, Daniel Dube, Anthony Mannino, 4-1; and Wild Ride Hanover, Ron Pierce, Linda Toscano, 12-1. Lightning D Dube and Phyleon are coupled in the wagering.