from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – May 22, 2004 – Spirit Of A Shark and Modern Art each won a $25,000 elimination race on Saturday night and advance to the $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic on May 29 at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Modern Art defeated I Am A Fool by three-quarters of a length in the 2nd NJ Classic elimination.

Spirit Of A Shark [$2.80, $2.10, $2.10] coasted to a half-length tally over Timesareachanging [$2.20, $2.10] in the first division carded as the second race. Holborn Hanover [$2.10] was four and a quarter lengths back in third.

George Brennan guided Spirit Of A Shark to a 1:51 clocking for the mile and his second straight win. The son of Cam’s Card Shark has finished in the money in four of seven starts this year and has a career bankroll of $122,423 for the ownership of C&I Siegel Racing Stable of Staten Island, New York; Herbert Siegel of Brooklyn, New York and Lee Wasserman of Merrick, New York.

“It worked out beautifully,” said Mark Kesmodel, the trainer of Spirit Of A Shark. “He had a perfect race. We’re going to be facing against the top two year olds from last year [in the final] so it is going to be tough. He’s getting his legs under him and coming into it real good.”

All My Life [fourth-place] and Keystone Endurance [fifth] also advance to the New Jersey Classic Final for New Jersey-sired three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

In the second division, the third race, 2003 Woodrow Wilson winner Modern Art [$4.00, $2.20, $2.10], driven by David Miller and trained by Joe Holloway, controlled the tempo of the race and withstood a late rally from the 2003 Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year I Am A Fool [$2.20, $2.10] to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 for the mile. Dr No [$2.10] was third by two and a half lengths.

Pacific Renegade and Jersey Mate, fourth and fifth respectively, will fill the final two slots in the final field of 10.

Modern Art, unbeaten in two outings this year, has been first or second in 14 of 15 lifetime starts. He has earned $744,041 for Val D’Or Farms of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey; Milton and Martha Frank of Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Ted Gewertz of New York City.

“He’s very good right now,” said Miller of Modern Art. “With the trip, everything worked out great. He is good and strong right now.”

Post positions for the $500,000 SBOA/ New Jersey Classic and its filly companion race, the $200,000 Miss New Jersey, will take place on Tuesday.