A dominant performance best explains the type of effort turned in by Art Official, who romped to victory in today's second $293,000 division of The Tattersalls at The Red Mile.
Fresh off his 1:48.3 victory in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes one week earlier, the three-year-old son of Art Major blazed his way to an identical clocking in today's assignment for trainer Joe Seekman and driver Ron Pierce.
Art Official - The Tattersalls
Mystery Chase and Brian Sears took the field to the quarter pole in :27 seconds before Pierce gave Art Official his cue. The colt brushed to the top without a tussle, and once he cleared he threw down fractions of :53.3 and 1:21.4 before kicking home in :26.4 for the win.
Lisfinny came on late to finish second for driver David Miller. Mystery Chase wound up finishing third.
"He's been real good. He was much better today than he was last week," said driver Ron Pierce. "We still have the Breeders Crown down the road and few other major races. Going for a record today was never an issue."
"We were disappointed that they [Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official] couldn't hook up today, I was really looking forward to racing that horse again," Pierce added. "There won't be a record at The Meadowlands in November when we race again, but it will be one heck of a race."
Sawgrass Farms LLC of Lockport, Illinois holds the papers on Art Official, who boasts a 13-4-1 record in 20 starts this season. This afternoon's victory lifted his lifetime earnings to $1,606,758.
(Photo courtesy of Nigel Soult)