Trainer Chris Ryder is wagering that Road Bet is a good bet to be ready for the start of Friday’s Artistic Vision Series at Meadowlands Racetrack.

The four-year-old pacing mare finished third in Monday’s $63,000 Petticoat Series final at Yonkers Raceway and is getting ready to return to action in four days in the first leg of the Artistic Vision at the Big M. Road Bet races in the second of two $22,500 divisions in the opening round.

JK Letitgo and American In Paris, both undefeated this year, headline the first division along with another Petticoat finalist, Hobe Sound. JK Letitgo, trained by Joshua Parker, is unbeaten in seven starts this season while American In Paris, trained by Ron Burke, is unscathed in four.

Round two of the series is scheduled April 11 and the $75,000 estimated final is April 19.

“There’s always a little bit of a concern (coming back quickly) but she’s doing well,” Ryder said about Road Bet’s turnaround time for the Artistic Vision. “I think she’s going to go pretty good. I’m looking forward to getting her on the mile track and seeing how fast she can go.”

Road Bet has raced five times this year, all at half-mile Yonkers, winning three races and finishing on the board in the other two. She was purchased by owner Bill Donovan for $60,000 at November’s Standardbred Horse Sale’s Mixed Sale after winning two of 27 starts and $155,914 while racing predominately on the New York Sire Stakes circuit.

Only twice has she raced on a track larger than five-eighths of a mile, with both those starts coming at seven-eighths Vernon Downs.

A daughter of stallion Bettors Delight out of the mare Road To Pandalay, Road Bet is a half-sister to stakes-winners Mypanmar (1:48.3 - $1,541,581) and Pang Shui (1:50.4 - $535,699). Her half-sister, Pandalay Bay, produced 2008 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Panmunjom.

“Mr. Donovan picked her out,” Ryder said. “She’s been perfect since I got her. She’s got no quirks – she doesn’t eat Fruit Loops or anything like that. Nothing bothers her; she’s got a real good attitude.”

In the Petticoat final, Road Bet finished a hard-charging third from post six despite being stuck on the outside for the entire mile. She was beaten by 1-1/2 lengths by Macharoundtheclock in 1:57.

“It was kind of a funny race,” Ryder said. “She was a little grabby, but she raced well. She just ran out of racetrack.”

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.