Four divisions of the Art Unger Series were contested during the Sunday matinee program at The Meadowlands, and for the most part front-end speed dominated in first round action
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Blue Boy was the only exception, as he employed off-the-pace tactics to take down his $12,500 tilt for the duo of trainer Julie Miller and driver David Miller. The four-year-old son of Real Artist sat a second over trip before rolling off cover and powering away from Harrahs Best and Golden Receiver in a time of 1:52.1.
It was the third win of the season in just four starts for the gelding, who is owned by Mack Racing Stables LLC of Bartlett, Illinois.
Oliver Cleo, who was sent off as the 1-9 favourite in his division, didn’t disappoint his backers thanks to his 1:52 triumph for trainer Pete Kleinhans and driver Ron Pierce. The four-year-old son of Park Place brushed to the top at the mid-way point of the mile en route to a decisive victory over Oyster Bay and Herradura Hanover.
P Kleinhans Racing Inc. of Flemington, NJ holds the papers on the lightly raced gelding, who now boasts a 3-1-0 record in four starts this campaign after going 1-1-0 in two assignments during his 2008 season.
Holdmetootight struggled in the recently contested preliminary legs of the Clyde Hirt Series, but he turned in a career-best clocking of 1:52.3 in his $12,500 division for trainer Scott Di Domenico and driver Tim Tetrick. The four-year-old son of Real Desire brushed to the top at the half and cruised to an easy win over the odds-on favourite, Real Samart, and Rock Creek Rocky.
It was the first win of the season and the third career tally for the gelding, who is owned by Illinois partners Douglas Lyons, Diane Johnson and Elizabeth Spitler.
General Montgomery, who also struggled in the Clyde Hirt Series, bounced back with a sharp effort in his division for the tandem of trainer Mike Arnold and driver Tim Tetrick. The four-year-old Pro Bono Best gelding stopped the clock in 1:52 en route to defeating Red Star Catch and Johnny Absolut.
It was the second trip to the winner’s circle this season for the homebred, who is owned by Erich Boehm of West Palm Beach, Florida.
The second leg of the Art Unger Series is scheduled for next Sunday afternoon at The Meadowlands, with the $75,000 (est.) final slated for Monday, February 16.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.