Real Mean Art and driver Dave Magee made it a real exciting finish in the $24,000 Invitational Pace on Wednesday at Hoosier Park as the eight-year-old gelding, who has been racing on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit for the past year, rallied late to win his first start back after a two month layoff

in a time of 1:53.

Real Mean Art began his journey from Post 5 in the eight-horse lineup. Magee made no early indications that the front end would be an option, easing back into seventh and putting race favourite Annieswesterncard and Travis Seekman at their backs. Dontgetbyme and Ricky Macomber reached the top spot just after the quarter mile marker in a time of :27.1. The lime green race bike of Macomber continued to lead the way to the halfway point in :56.4 before he was joined by company on the outside, instigated by a move to the outside by Real Mean Art.

Around the turn, Dontgetbyme continued to cling to the lead as Freddyscooter and Trace Tetrick closed in, giving Real Mean Art a third over trip with Annieswesterncard right at his heels.

In the stretch, Freddyscooter took over and put some distance between him and the field. Halfway down the stretch, it looked as if the Indiana sired son of I Scoot Hanover would make his first start of 2011 a winning one. However, as the finish line neared, so did the challengers.

Real Mean Art was focused on catching Freddyscooter. The son of Real Artist accomplished his goal in the final strides, taking home the top prize by just one length over Sams Escape and Peter Wrenn, who were barreling in quickly to take second. Freddyscooter held on gamely for third.

Owned by Steve Beam of Gillett, Wisconsin, Real Mean Art picked up his fourth win of the year in his ninth outing. The chestnut gelding, trained by Merv Chupp, now has 24 career wins and earnings in excess of $450,000.

In the trotting ranks, Speed N The Tunnel and Sam Widger made it three wins in a row in the $24,000 Invitational Trot. Widger placed the eight-year-old daughter of Armbro Tunnel directly on the lead from the start, posting fractions of :28, :59.1, and 1:30.

Speed N The Tunnel saved the best for last, strutting home with a :28.4 final panel to earn the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.4 during the chilly evening. Master Solutions and Macomber rallied in for second over Azur and Verlin Yoder for third.

Speed N The Tunnel now has 41 career wins and is closing in on $600,000 lifetime for owners Brett and Lynn Wilfong, who also raised the mare. Brett also trains Speed N The Tunnel, an assignment he’s had since she began racing in 2005.

Action Jackson The Right Choice For Widger

No one had more confidence in the ability of Action Jackson than driver Sam Widger. After winning both divisions of the Landess Series Wednesday, April 13, Widger had to choose which horse to drive in the final.

“I drove this horse [Action Jackson] a little last year and he has the ability,” said Widger. “He’s a little different horse than he was last year. He’s grown up. He’s much easier to drive this year. The way the final unfolded, I felt he was the horse to choose in this race.”

Widger’s decision turned out to be the right move. He and Action Jackson crossed the wire first in the $25,000 Jerry Landess final on Wednesday, April 20 at Hoosier Park.

JJs Fast Guy and Adam Short grabbed the early lead, brushing by the quarter mile marker in a time of :27.2. The lead changed hands at the halfway mark when Glenview Flight and Tyler Smith drove to the front just past the half in a time of :57.1, leaving Action Jackson as the first horse in the outer flow for the final half of the race.

“I didn’t mind being first up with him [Action Jackson],” said Widger. “As long as he has someone in front of him to chase down, he’ll keep up. I was able to sit out there until almost the stretch before I called on him to go. He dug in and took off.”

Widger gave the green light to Action Jackson around the final turn and was in front of the field just past the three-quarter pole in a time of 1:27.1. The four-year-old Kentucky Spur gelding opened up two lengths on the field and pressed on to the wire, winning by two and one-half lengths in 1:57. Electric Shooter and Dave Magee were joined by Straight Value and Peter Wrenn in a dead heat for second.

Owned by Greg and Julie Kain’s Green Acres of Beecher, Illinois, Action Jackson nearly doubled his career earnings with the win. He is now two-for-three in 2011 for Greg, who also trains the horse known as “Roman” around the Kain barn for his Roman nose.

“He came out of the race good last week,” said Kain. “He’s not the soundest horse in the world, but he’s not bad. He always gets turned out the next day after he races.”

Both Kain and Widger agree that “Roman” has matured this season. His habits both on and off the track would push most away, but patience paid off.

“He was not an easy horse to deal with last year at all,” said Kain. “But he’s really changed. It’s hard to believe he’s come this far.”

Kain has four horses in training at Balmoral Park and he works in the computer technology field at a University in the Chicagoland area. A graduate of Purdue, Kain first became involved with racing through his grandfather. Now, he and his wife, Julie, are able to pursue harness racing as a hobby and raise some of their own horses, including Action Jackson, who was named after a childhood friend. The entire family, including Kain’s four children, Nicole, 11, Kaitlyn, 8, Joe, 7, and Samantha, 4, were in the winner’s circle for the win.

(With files from Hoosier Park)