by Joshua Potts, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — Saturday (July 19) is one of the greatest nights in harness racing. The Meadowlands Pace, race number eight, has all the makings of a race for the ages. If Somebeachsomewhere wins, it will be memorable. If someone upsets SBSW, it will be memorable. Either way, harness racing fans throughout North America are in for a treat.

A horse that is flying under the radar heading into Saturday’s Pace is Art Official.

Linscott Photography

Art Official was a 1:51.1 winner in the Hoosier Cup.

The particulars: Art Official is a 3-year-old bay colt by Art Major, out of the Falcon Seelster mare Naughty Shady Lady. His freshman record was 15-0-3-7, and he banked $104,333. As a 3-year-old, his record is 11-5-4-0, with a bankroll of $347,550. His lifetime mark of 1:50.1 was taken at Balmoral Park last month, on June 21, in the Hanover Stake. A week later he captured the $500,000 Hoosier Cup in 1:51.1.

At The Meadowlands: In his career, Art Official has raced at the Meadowlands on five occasions. The first time was in his elimination of the Breeders Crown last year. Breaking from the five hole, he was racing third over, in sixth position, in a half that went in :54.4. Racing a first up third into a three-quarter split that went in 1:22.2, he kicked home in :29, finishing second, three lengths behind the victorious Sand Shooter.

Art Official’s second effort over the Big M’s surface was in the $650,000 Breeders Crown Final eight days later. Starting from post number ten, he finished fifth, 4-1/4 lengths behind the winner, Santanna Blue Chip.

His third effort in East Rutherford occurred as a 3-year-old in his elimination of the Berry’s Creek. Making the first over grind while racing third, in a three-quarter split that went in 1:24.3, Art Official came flying home in :26. But it wasn’t enough to beat Bullville Powerful. Art Official, who went off as the public’s choice at 3-5, finished second, beaten three parts of a length.

The son of Art Major’s fourth attempt at the Big M was one week later in the Berry’s Creek Final. In this contest, Art Official made an overland journey, making the all-too-familiar first over grind into a half that went in :54.1, and a three-quarter split that went in 1:22. Going off as the 8-5 favorite, the colt came home in :28.2, finishing fourth, three-quarters of a length behind the victorious Blueridge Western.

Art Official’s fifth and most recent attempt at the Big M, of course, came last week in his Meadowlands Pace elimination. This time, he had the misfortune of drawing into an elim with SBSW. And where do you think Art Official found himself at the half and three-quarter poles? If you said, ‘first over,’ you win the toaster. He, of course, finished second behind ‘The Beach.’

Ask any horseplayer, you do not want to be caught first over at the Big M. Art Official has done it with religious predictability. Is it possible that he can get a decent trip Saturday in ‘The Pace?’

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Art Official is closing in on the $500,000 mark in career earnings.

You can analyze charts until you pass out. Sometimes, it helps to call up the horse’s owner and get their take on the situation. Racing as Sawgrass Farms LLC, Jim Jesk is the owner of Art Official. He had plenty of interesting insights about his pacer’s chances this Saturday.

“(Trainer) Joe Seekman has been strong on him,” said Jesk. “He’s been guiding him. When you have a good trainer and a good horse, it usually works out.

“I think we’re going to win. He’s a grinder. We’re going to go after ‘The Beach.’ Ronnie (driver Ron Pierce) is a great driver. It’s going to be a good race. You can’t take anything away from ‘The Beach.’ But I think my guy’s going to do it. We’re in a good spot, and we have a good driver. We’ll do fine.”

Last week’s Meadowlands Pace elimination was driver Ron Pierce’s first time piloting Art Official. Ryan Anderson, a top young driver and a regular on the Chicago circuit, was supposed to drive him, having been at the lines in Art Official’s victories in the Hanover Stake and the Hoosier Cup.

Unfortunately, Anderson was injured in a racing accident that occurred on July 6. This was especially unfortunate, because it was only recently that Anderson made it back to the races, recovering from an accident that occurred in December of last year.

“Ryan was good with him,” said Jesk. “We hope Ryan comes back soon. We’re lucky that Ronnie chose to drive our horse. He did a good job and we think he’ll do a good job again.”

Art Official is the 10-1 co-fourth choice on the morning line, scoring from post number six. For those players looking for a price in race eight at the Big M on Saturday, the Meadowlands Pace, he just might be what the doctor ordered.

Meadowlands Pace Final-Race 8-Post: 10:14 p.m.
Post, Horse, Driver, Trainer, ML
1, Share The Delight, John Campbell, Linda Toscano, 10-1
2, Somebeachsomewhere, Paul MacDonell, Brent MacGrath, 2-5
3, Sand Shooter, Tim Tetrick, Jim Arledge, Jr., 8-1
4, Atochia, Jim Morrill, Jr., Peter Kleinhans, 30-1
5, Mucho Sleazy, David Miller, Ken Rucker, 30-1
6, Art Official, Ron Pierce, Joe Seekman, 10-1
7, Bullville Powerful, Yannick Gingras, Steve Crevani, 12-1
8, Dontloseyourdayjob, Eric Goodell, Monte Gelrod, 30-1
9, Badlands Nitro, Brian Sears, George Teague, Jr., 6-1
10, Tiz A Masterpiece, Andy Miller, Blair Burgess, 30-1