August 8th, 1997 at the Meadowlands, on the eve of the 72d Hambletonian, the same group filled the winner's circle for the $765,750 Woodrow Wilson with 2-year-old Real Artist.

Real Artist, a $100,000 yearling purchase, paced the mile in 1:52 flat, just a fifth of a second off the track record for 2-year-old pacers. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Real Artist drew off to a 4 1/2-length victory over Bear Dance. It was five lengths back to Live Love Laugh in third.

"I was confident he'd race well after last week's race," John Campbell said after winning his fourth Woodrow Wilson Pace. "He got a little tired through the lane but, when I called on him, he dug in. They were going out good early, and he settled in good. I didn't want to use him up early. I wouldn't have gone to the front if Richie's horse (Richard Silverman with House Of Fun) hadn't made the break. I would have been content first-over. After I cleared, I got more pressure at the three quarters (in 1:23.4) than I expected."

"The Hambletonian was my first really big win after a few years of not doing so well," Jim Campbell said. "This ranks right up there. When you start from scratch with them, it's like one of your own kids doing well in sports. This is special because we picked him out. He was an outstanding looking individual. He stood there real proud of himself with all the people looking over him. If you threw the pedigree away, you'd still love this horse."

Real Artist, by Artsplace out of Rodine Hanover, has now won two of four starts and banked more than $400,000.

"He's eligible to the Metro but we'll wait and see," Jim Campbell said, "I'm in no hurry to put him back an the racetrack. We'll focus on the Breeders Crown and the Governor's Cup."

In the $240,000 Classic Distaff Final, longshot Queens Arms ($53.80) posted her first victory since Feb. 8, finishing a neck ahead of the pacesetting Ooh's N Aah's. It was a length and a half back to Sister Tami in third.

Owned by David Snowden of Bowmanville, Ontario, the 6-year=old Queens Arms, trained by Steven Pothier for the Jonas Stutzman Stable, paced the mile and an eighth in 2:06.2, a mare's record for the distance.

FRESHMAN pacing colts have four big races in which to prove themselves, the Woodrow Wilson, the Metro, the Breeders Crown and the Governor's Cup, and in 1997 those races gave four different colts the chance to shine. That abundance of talent means this could once again be the most exciting division to watch in 1998.

IT TOOK THREE qualifiers for Real Artist to make it to the races for owners Arlene and Jules Siegel, and it took three races for him to make it to the winner's circle.

However, when this son of Artsplace finally showed his true potential, he did so in style.

After a place and show finish in a New Jersey Sire Stake and a division of the Niatross, respectively, Real Artist finally paced his way into the winner's circle for driver John Campbell in an elimination for the Woodrow Wilson. winning by nearly seven lengths in 1:52.2. Apparently having found that enclosure to his liking, the colt was back again a week later, having captured the $765,750 Wilson final by more than four lengths in a lifetime-best 1:52.

"He was a very smart horse to break, very easy on himself." recalled trainer Jim Campbell. "He always did what was asked of him training, even though he was never too excited.

"He'd always acted like one of our best colts training down, but I'll admit it surprised me how easy he went in 1:52.2 [in the Wilson elimination]. Then he came out of the Wilson so good, I had real hopes tor him."

Those hopes were, unfortunately, put on hold. After a pair of Garden State qualifiers designed to tighten him up for a New Jersey Sire Stake, Real Artist developed a cough and severe congestion. That illness derailed Breeders Crown plans. although he qualified Oct. 24 at Garden State Park in 1:56.2, and again a week later in 1:53.4, to prep for the Governor's Cup, where he finished ninth after a tough first-over trip.

Real Artist rested after the Governor s Cup, and Campbell said the colt, who he describes as "good-sized" with a "strong build," will be pointed first toward the Jersey Classic as a 3-year-old.