from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – April 29, 2006 – Artistic Fella and Real Mean Art won their respective elimination races on Saturday night and will be joined by eight others who advance to the $225,000 Berry’s Creek Final on May 6 at the Meadowlands

The top five finishers from each of the two elims, carded as the second and third races, earned spots in the field for the first major test of the year for three-year-old pacing colts.

Lisa Photo

Artistic Fella powered to the lead in the stretch and drew away to a two and a quarter length victory in the first of two Berry’s Creek elims.

Artistic Fella [$8.40, $2.60, $2.20] powered to the lead in the stretch and drew away to a two and a quarter length victory over 4-5 favorite Sandro Hanover [$2.40, $2.10] in the first of the two elims, pacing the mile in 1:51.2. Bono Bests [$2.20] was third by two and three-quarter lengths.

Royal Man and West Bound Train also reached the final, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Artistic Fella, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Steve Elliott, won the $72,770 Suslow Final in his last start and now has two wins in six starts this year. At two, the son of Pacific Fella won three of four starts.

Owned by Joseph Alborano of New Egypt, New Jersey, Artistic Fella has career earnings of $108,735.

“Leaving the gate nobody was really going out there, and I wasn’t going to leave,” said Pierce. “I got away about sixth. We got luck because a couple of them mixed it up [on the front], and I got live cover that took me all the way into the stretch. I tipped off [Sandro Hanover’s] back, and he [Artistic Fella] closed strong. This colt is coming a long way.”

“He got a perfect drive once again,” said Toni Rose, assistant to trainer Steve Elliott. “He’s getting into his own and getting better every week. He’s much better as a closer. He didn’t do too well the one time he raced on the front. We planned on racing him off the pace. I was a little nervous about the gap on the backstretch, but he closed real well in the stretch.”

In the second division, Real Mean Art [$3.60, $2.80, $2.20] came first up on the backstretch pulled ahead for a head victory over Tuffofthetoughest [$9.00, $4.20]. Cookerosa [$3.40], the pacesetter, finished third by three quarters of a length.

Lisa Photo

In the second division, Real Mean Art scored a head victory over Tuffofthetoughest.

Real Mean Art, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Ken Rucker, covered the mile in 1:51 flat.

“I was following this horse who didn’t look too good to me,” said Sears, who has now won a race on 35 consecutive programs at the Meadowlands. “I was afraid he was going to make a break. So I pulled a little earlier than I would have wanted to. He moved up okay. He’s been racing real good that way. I think he’ll be even better next week.”

Real Mean Art, racing for the Panhellenic Stable Corp. of Long Island City, New York, has three wins, three seconds and three thirds in 11 starts this year and lifetime earnings of $106,121. He was second best in finals of both the Suslow and the Matt’s Scooter Series at the Meadowlands.

Also advancing to the Berry’s Creek Final from the second elimination race were Alastor Hanover, who was fourth, and Cactus Creek, who was fifth.

MEADOWLANDS MAKES A GREAT DERBY DAY DESTINATION

If a trip to Churchill Downs for a $1,000 mint julep is not in the cards, being at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Kentucky Derby Day is the next best thing.

With hundreds of television screens, plenty of dining options and drawings for Derby merchandise, the Meadowlands is the tri-state area’s best bet for watching and wagering on the most exciting two minutes in sports on Saturday, May 6.

For a gourmet dining experience, the track’s penthouse-level Pegasus Restaurant is offering an afternoon brunch package for $34.95, which includes admission and a Derby program. Buffet and a la carte dining is also available both day and night in Terraces Restaurant on the Clubhouse Level.

Meadowlands gates open at 9:30 a.m. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:04 p.m. and a live Meadowlands card gets underway at 7:30 p.m. The featured event is the $225,000 Berry’s Creek, the first major event on the stakes trail for three-year-old pacers.

Grandstand and Clubhouse admission is only $1, day and night. For more information and dining reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM or visit the Meadowlands’ website: www.thebigm.com.

Kentucky Derby wagering via phone or Internet is also available through New Jersey Account Wagering [www.4njbets.com].

KENTUCKY DERBY DAY AT THE MEADOWLANDS * AT A GLANCE

Friday, May 5

10 a.m.
* Admission gates open

10:30 a.m.
* Wagering begins on Churchill Downs * Kentucky Oaks Day — [Post Time: 11 a.m.]

12 p.m.
* Advance wagering begins on Churchill Downs [May 6 — Full Card]
* Wagering begins on the Oaks — Derby Double
* Oaks/Derby Double and Kentucky Derby Race past performances free at program stands

Saturday, May 6

9:30 a.m.
* Admission gates open
* Wagering begins on the Kentucky Derby race only at self-service and selected mutuel windows

10 a.m.
* Wagering beings on the full card from Churchill Downs

10:40 a.m.
* Advance wagering begins on Meadowlands harness card [post time: 7:30 p.m.]

11 a.m.
* Churchill Downs begins racing

3 p.m., 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.
* Drawings for Kentucky Derby merchandise

6:04 p.m.
* Post time for the Kentucky Derby

7:30 p.m.
* Live harness racing begins
* Featured race: $225,000 Berry’s Creek for three-year-olds

All Day
* $1 Grandstand and Clubhouse admission all day and night
* Free Grandstand admission coupon for Preakness Day, May 20
* Handicapping insights from Meadowlands racing analysts
* Simulcasting from 11 a.m. * 12:15 a.m.
* Brunch at Pegasus – $34.95 per person includes admission & Kentucky Derby program [excludes tax and gratuity]. Call 201-THE-BIGM for reservations
* Dinning at Terraces * Buffet: $27.95 per person includes tax [excludes admission, program and gratuity]; a la carte menu also available
* Phone and Internet wagering available through New Jersey Account Wagering [www.4njbets.com]

AROUND THE MEADOWLANDS FOR APRIL 29, 2006

Horses will race out of the front paddock on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting on Saturday, May 6. Races two through nine each of those programs will use the front paddock, with the exception of two-year-old races. In the event of adverse weather conditions, the use of the front paddock may be canceled.

Through Friday night, Brian Sears has gone 34 straight Meadowlands programs with at least one trip to the Meadowlands’ winner’s circle. He currently has a 184 to 122 lead over Ron Pierce in the driver standings. For the month [through April 28], he has 58 wins, 32 seconds and 30 thirds from 211 drivers for earnings of $803,548 toward his meet totals of 184-129-110 from 824 drives and $2,786,917 in money won. For the months of March and April combined, he has 116 wins and $1.6 million in earnings.

Reservations are filling fast for Mother’s Day Brunch at the Meadowlands. Special packages are available in Pegasus and Terraces. For more information, call 201-THEBIGM or visit the Upcoming Events section of the Meadowlands’ website: http://www.thebigm.com/eventsList.asp