FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) -Art Official is the 9-5 favorite in the $392,850 Cane Pace on Monday following a record-setting victory in last week's eliminations.
Art Official paced the mile in 1:50 4/5, breaking the Freehold Raceway track record. It was also more than 2 seconds faster than the 1:53 clocking of Badlands Nitro, the other elimination winner. The top four finishers in each elimination advanced to the Cane final.
Driver Ron Pierce is supremely confident as Art Official heads into the first leg of the Triple Crown for pacers.
``I don't see anything that can beat him,'' Pierce said. ``If anyone that raced in those eliminations beats him, I'll be very surprised.''
After the Cane, the pacing Triple Crown for 3-year-olds moves on to Little Brown Jug at the Delaware, Ohio fairgrounds Sept. 18 and concludes with the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers Raceway on Oct. 25.
Art Official starts from post No. 7 in the Cane following his 3 1/4-length elimination victory on Aug. 23. He has won four in a row, a streak that started with the $1 million Meadowlands Pace.
Joe Seekman trains the colt who is 9-for-15 this season.
Trainer George Teague, Jr. sends out an entry of Badlands Nitro from the rail and Rudy Rednose from post No. 4. They are the 5-2 second choice.
Trainer Erv Miller also has two horses in the race racing as separate betting interests: Lis Deo from post No. 6 and Major General from the outside post, No. 8.
The field for the Cane Pace in post position order with drivers and odds: Badlands Nitro, Brian Sears, 5-2; McCedes, Daniel Dube, 6-1; Moon Beam, Yannick Gingras, 3-1; Rudy Rednose, David Miller, 5-2; U Smooth Talker U, John Campbell, 15-1; Lis Deo, Tim Tetrick, 9-2; Art Official, Pierce, 9-5 and Major General, Andy Miller, 10-1.
