Somebeachsomewhere Suffers First Loss
Art Official Sets New World Record in Meadowlands Pace Win
Aug 13, 2008
Somebeachsomewhere's 10-race win string came to a whisker thin close in front of a Meadowlands Pace crowd of nearly 17,000. Instead of seeing the favorite win, fans witnessed a neck defeat delivered by winner Art Official in a new world record for the mile oval.
North America Cup Winner Beaten
In June, Somebeachsomewhere performed like an unstoppable pacing machine as he won the Pepsi North America Cup in Ontario, Canada at Mohawk Raceway. The title there gave the three-year-old dominator a string of 10 consecutive wins.
All good things, apparently, must end. The colt's unbeaten record was threatened, then overcome by a neck by Art Official in the July Meadowlands Pace. Somebeachsomewhere's driver, Paul MacDonell, put his pacing champ in position to win with a wide turn heading into the backstretch.
In the field of nine -- Dontloseyourdayjob scratched earlier in the day -- Art Official was first out of Post Position Six past the clubhouse turn. He paced the first quarter in :26 with the favorite and Bullville Powerful in hot pursuit.
Ron Pierce, Art Official's driver, credited his colt with having an outstanding trainer. That man is Joe Seekman. Pierce said Art Official has shown steady improvement and he liked his chances of taking Somebeachsomewhere if he could get a good trip.
Still, Pierce said he was in awe of Somebeachsomewhere's ability, and he had "mixed emotions" about getting the big, record-breaking win over a brilliant favorite.
Art Official's owner, Jim Jesk, said his colt would probably be pointed next to the Indiana Downs stakes.
Somebeachsomewhere Went As the 1-10 Favorite
The low odds for a Somebeachsomewhere first place finish sent the toteboard into double digits for the rest of the field, including 12-1 for Badlands Nitro and 10-1 for the winner, Art Official. Bullville Powerful was sent off at 15-1.
While Art Official grabbed the early lead, Somebeachsomewhere paced the half in :51-4/5 and the three quarters of a mile in 1:19-1/5 and took command. At the 1/16 pole, Pierce tapped Art Official with his stick, and the colt jettisoned to the wire, getting Somebeachsomewhere by a neck while blitzing to the record pace. Art Official's time was just 1/5 of a second off the all-ages world record.
Share the Delight, driven by John Campbell, went third, 5-1/4 lengths behind the leaders. Earlier in the week, Share the Delight helped produce Campbell's 10,000th career win in the Meadowlands Pace elimination heats.
MacDonell said he was aware of the "remarkable" pacing time and had "a lot of horse" at the wire, but credited the winning duo with catching him "right at the end".
