from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — While Fresh Deck’s main competition is gearing up for the million dollar stakes trail ahead, trainer Joe Holloway has made the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic the focus of his colt’s sophomore season.

Owned by Val D’or Farms, Ted Gewertz and Schoor-Racing Stable, Fresh Deck drew into the tougher of the two $25,000 eliminations for the New Jersey Classic on Saturday night (May 26) at the Meadowlands. The son of Cam’s Card Shark will start from post six in the second race elim, in which he will face 2006 divisional leaders Artzina and Yankee Skyscaper. The top five finishers in each elim advance to the $500,000 final, the richest event in harness racing restricted to state-bred horses, on Saturday, June 2.

A $125,000 yearling purchase at the 2005 Lexington Selected Sale, Fresh Deck made just two starts as a freshman. He finished sixth in the Goshen Cup and fourth in the Niatross at the Meadowlands before having his tack hung up for the season.

“As a 2-year-old, he had some minor issues with a knee,” Holloway said. “He went with a few of the top ones early and then he got turned out.”

Holloway brought Fresh Deck back to the races in late January with an eye on the Berry’s Creek and New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands. Since then, he has finished third or better in all 10 of his starts. He made the first five starts of his sophomore season at Dover Downs in Delaware. After finishing second in his 2007 debut on January 30, he reeled off four straight wins and was then shipped to the Meadowlands, where he continued his streak with a 1:51.1 win on April 1.

Fresh Deck faced his first stakes test of the season in the Berry’s Creek. He finished third behind Wearable Art in both his elimination and the $225,000 final on May 7.

“This year, he’s matured and come back very well,” Holloway said. “I could have gone in some of the earlier series. He was eligible to them all, but I opted not to. I didn’t want to go 1:51 in the Junior Trendsetter. I’m not sure that would have won it. You only have so many 1:51 miles in them. I decided to aim for the Berry’s Creek and the New Jersey Classic.

“Horses come to their speed differently than 10, 15 or 20 years ago,” he added. “There are only so many big miles in them. I’m looking at the best spots for them.”

Fresh Deck was a convincing 1:51.3 winner over a sloppy track in a New Jersey Sire Stakes division last week. Artzina, who was making his 2007 debut, finished fifth in that race.

“He went a very good mile on a track that was awful,” Holloway noted. “He is coming along on schedule.”

The fields for the New Jersey Classic eliminations (driver changes available Wednesday evening):

Race 2: 1, Ghee’s House, Yannick Gingras; 2, Watta Hotshot, John Campbell; 3, Artzina, John Campbell; 4, Art At Heart, Andy Miller; 5, Red Hot Yankee, George Brennan; 6, Fresh Deck, George Brennan; 7, Yankee Skyscaper, George Brennan; and 8, Western Smoocher, Daniel Dube.

Race 3: 1, Kinetic Yankee, Andy Miller; 2, Artist’s View, Daniel Dube; 3, Radio City, Yannick Gingras; 4, TJ’s Ideal, Brian Sears; 5, Always A Virgin, Brian Sears; 6, Friday Nite Lights, John Campbell; and 7, Artriverderci, Brian Sears.

European racing is Meadowlands’ Sunday simulcast special

To add to the excitement of Sunday morning’s simulcast of the Elitlopp from Sweden, the Meadowlands will also beam in racing from England and Ireland on May 27.

Racing fans will be able to root on Mr Muscleman and A Touch Of Flair as they compete in the Elitlopp, Europe’s most prestigious harness racing event. The Elitlopp is part of a six-race program to be simulcast from Stockholm’s Solvalla Racecourse. Guests will be able to wager on the six Swedish races, which start at 10:02 a.m. The final heat of the Elitlopp is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

In addition, the Meadowlands will simulcast racing from Curragh and Tralee in Ireland, and Fontwell and Uttoxeter in England.

Meadowlands gates will open at 9:30 a.m. with free admission until 11:00 a.m.

Party with P.R.Y.D.E. on Memorial Day

If sitting bumper-to-bumper in New Jersey shore traffic on Memorial Day does not sound appealing, the Meadowlands Racetrack has a winning alternative.

Local rock favorites P.R.Y.D.E. will help kick off the summer racing season at the Meadowlands with a concert on Monday, May 28. Paddock Park will also play host to a variety of outdoor sports games, including a rock climbing wall and speed pitch.

Music and games from 12:30 p.m.; the money-winning excitement of live harness racing begins at 1:10 p.m. General admission is just $1.