from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — The conditions certainly seem ripe for a New Jersey Classic repeat: trainer Scott Bell, owner Wayne Whebby and a modestly priced son of Artiscape.

One year after Feelin Friskie’s stakes record 1:49.1 score in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic, Bell and Whebby are hoping to reach the winner’s circle again with Watta Hotshot.

Watta Hotshot drew into the first of Saturday night’s (May 26) two $25,000 eliminations that will determine the field for the New Jersey Classic on June 2 at the Meadowlands. He is rated at 8-1 from post two and will take on last year’s divisional leaders, Artzina and Yankee Skyscaper. The top five finishers in each elimination advance to the $500,000 final, the premier event for New Jersey-sired 3-year-old pacers and the richest state-bred event in the sport.

The New Jersey Classic shares the spotlight with a companion event for fillies, the $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey. One elimination, to be raced on Friday night, will determine the field for the Miss New Jersey.

Feelin Friskie gave trainer Scott Bell, 38, the biggest win of his career when he won the 2006 New Jersey Classic. Feelin Friskie also finished second in the North America Cup and New Jersey Sire Stakes Final and came away with earnings of $696,862 as a sophomore — not bad for a $22,000 yearling purchase. Watta Hotshot was a similarly-priced $20,000 yearling purchase, who enters Saturday’s eliminations with a record of three wins, two seconds and a third in eight starts.

“Watta Hotshot is about the same as Feelin Friskie was at this point last year, so we’re excited about our chances,” Bell said. “Hopefully, we’ll at least make the final. Depending on how he does here, we’ll probably take a shot at the North America Cup again. He’s also eligible to the Meadowlands Pace (July 14) and a lot of major stakes down the road.

“Last year, winning the New Jersey Classic was a great, thrilling experience for me,” he continued. “It was a dream. I came down here about six years ago and worked for some top trainers like Joe Holloway, Chris Marino and Richie Banca. I learned a lot, and I had been in the shadows, winning Breeders Crowns. But, at the end of last season, I went home (to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) feeling I proved I could do it myself. Now I know what it takes to play with the Romans, if you know what I mean.”

Although Watta Hotshot did not make his 2-year-old debut until September 17, 2006, he showed immediate promise as a stakes-caliber colt. After finishing second in his first career start at Truro, he reeled off three straight wins, including the Lou Babic elimination (in 1:55.2) and final (1:56.1) at Freehold. In his next two starts, he was fourth in a Breeders Crown elimination at Woodbine and second in the New Jersey Futurity. However, a disappointing eighth place finish in the Matron eliminations at Dover called for some changes.

“He started getting all fired up and studdy on us at the end of the season,” Bell said. “He finished a poor eighth in his Matron elimination, came back into the paddock roaring out of control. That’s when we figured we had to geld him and it made a big difference. He’s more professional now. I’ve changed his shoes behind because he paddles out, and now he has a big enough race bike.”

Watta Hotshot spent the winter at Whebby’s farm in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and qualified four times at Truro Raceway before making his 2007 debut in a New Jersey Sire Stakes division on May 19 at the Meadowlands. He finished third in that race, after having to come first-up over a sloppy track.

“He matured and came back strong in Nova Scotia, but obviously needed his first start back,” Bell said. “You don’t get ready for this kind of competition with those miles at Truro. Last week, John (driver John Campbell) tried to get covered up, but horses were breaking, and it was real sloppy. It was tough to get a read on any horse that night because so many were getting bogged down in the mud. My horse grinded first-over from post eight and was still pacing to the wire in :27.2 to finish third. I’m pretty happy with that. The big thing at this level is managing them right and not messing them up by doing too much.”

One piece of the New Jersey Classic puzzle that will not be the same for Bell this year is his horse’s driver.

“John called me to say he was committed to Artzina and, of course, I understand that,” he said, “but we’re fortunate to get another Hall of Famer in Mike Lachance.”

In addition to Watta Hotshot, Bell and Whebby will have another son of Artiscape on the stakes trail this year, Olay Olay. The colt earned $229,872 in 2006 and counted the Battle of Freehold and a Breeders Crown elimination among his wins. Feelin Friskie is also getting ready to make his 2007 debut. He finished third in a qualifier on Thursday morning at the Meadowlands.

Owner Wayne Whebby’s father, Eric Whebby, holds the unique distinction of winning the first race ever held at the Meadowlands with Quick Baron on September 1, 1976. The Whebby family of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia has been involved in harness racing for 50 years and their stable was at one time the most powerful in the Maritimes and a regular presence in other Canadian circuits and the United States. Wayne has continued the family’s racing legacy along with maintaining outside business interests in construction and development.

“Mr. Whebby likes Artiscapes because they’re good value,” Bell noted. “My grandfather, Eric Ike Mooreside, always taught me that this business requires a certain work ethic and to treat each horse as an individual, and give each one the attention they deserve. Watta Hotshot and Mr. Whebby have given me another chance at the major stakes level, and I’m extremely grateful for that. There are a lot of racing opportunities in this area and I’m just trying to take full advantage of them.”