ARTISCAPE STILL GOING
Like the energizer bunny, Artiscape keeps going with another substantial weekend winning BOTH the Open Mares and Open Paces at Woodbine on Saturday. It was Escape The Wind (Artiscape-Chicole) handily in 1:49.2 on a rain slicked foggy Woodbine night. Two races prior, Stonebridge Kisses (Artiscape-Twointhemorning) was along in 1:52.1 to win the mares open feature.

And at The Meadowlands, Articulator (Artiscape-Naraculous)_ signaled a return to form with a crisp second place finish to Life Source in a division of The Graduate while Sammy DePinto’s Artesian (Artiscape-Hula Dancer) was right with the streaking Canyon Wind and Shu Hanover in the Open.

We’ll have NARACULESE a full brother to Articulator headlining a power packed Artiscape segment of our Harrisburg and New Jersey Classic consignments.
Another headliner could well be ARTSTREOS from a Pandersosa sister to Astreos

Noticed that $898,683 was handled by Harrington Raceway for one of its strong Monday programs. The report did not indicate how that was broken down as to ON TRACK handle and SIMULCAST handle. Be real curious to know that.

Heard The Meadowlands had an incredible handle on Kentucky Derby Day primarily on Churchill Downs. Unfortunately our dependence on income from thoroughbred simulcasting seems to increase as we go along.

CONGRATULATIONS JOE RICCI
A sincere congratulations to Pompano’s track announcer and handicapper Joe Ricci who correctly tabbed all 10 winners at the South Florida track last Saturday night. Having surfed in those waters myself for many years, I can still remember the apprehension and anxiety on the night of November 7th, 1964 at Yonkers Raceway when after the 7th race I realized I was two races away from sweeping the card and my horse in the upcoming 8th Adio Elkington was somewhere over 10-1. He won handily via a three wide last quarter sweep for Del Insko. That left it all up to Klanchen to successfully close out the evening’s finale..

Never actually saw her finish for by that time had long since transferred to prime get out position at the top of the stretch. There were over 35,000 in attendance that night and unless you left before any numbers were posted you’d be stuck in the parking lot for at least an hour. All I saw was Klanchen swinging clear off cover and lengthening stride in response to Tom Mazza’s urging. Think she paid $7.20 as she nailed the false favorite by mid stretch and drew off.

But then as Dave Liker wrote in his Horseman magazine column, “Big crowds mean less than erudite money” fills the pools. He didn’t phase it quite that way but its something we well understood and counted on back then,

Savor the moment Joe. Been there done that and its quite a feat.

WAY TO GO RAY
Perhaps they should call it the Schnittker Cup as it was the third Dexter Cup win in the last few seasons for Ray Schnittker with Lindy Five Hundred.

Actually if you watched the Dexter Cup you got a classic lesson in the significance of betting entries. As Lindy’s Five Hundred and Clearaway with Ray Schnittker two of the four entrymates crawled side by side to three quarters (1:03 middle half) this greatly minimized the chances of pocket sitting Great George Two who would have had to have negotiated a sub:28 final quarter in order to be “up” via the passing lane. Yes it was “ganging up’ much like “The Master” used to do with his four and five horse entries but when they’re coupled the public is protected.

It when they’re not coupled that the public is ripped.

What’s this? Five drivers in Delaware got suspended for drug violations? That’ll inspire some confidence among the betting crowd!

Mr. Delite.could be an interesting sort. He’s by The Panderosa from Delight The Eyes, a Beach Towel daughter of Stienams Girl, she remembered as the dam of Stienam’s Place, who kind of telegraphed the coming brilliance of Artsplace distaffers.

Dave Briggs and Bob Heyden provided a wonderful collaboration on Stanley Dancer in the May 12th Canadian Sportsman. The issue also included a terrific loose lines column by Stan Bergstein documenting the use of Clotol.

MATTIOS (Matt’s Scooter-Armbro Vamoose) might be the first of last year’s yearling crop to hit the racetrack qualifying nicely at Pompano in 2:02.4 rather handily so we’re told. Her Artiscape brother CHOCOLART MOOSE is slated for Harrisburg this fall and he IS a looker…

Saw some of the yearlings last week and can tell ya this. The two Aces And Sevens colts are nice. In Good Hands the half brother to Brandons Cowboy from Angel be Good has a bit of a roman nose but otherwise is fine. Good size good bodied colt. Stands good too..

We have a superb bunch of Artiscapes. Dr. Boyce declared both the previously mentioned NARACULESE (Naraculous) and ARTSREOS as grade A prospects. CHOCOLART MOOSE was graded likewise as was JACKIE MOZART (Crystal Symphony) and NARTICAL MILE (King’s Narcissus) He also cited ARTHROSCOPIC (Doc’s Girl) as still another fine representative of her dam.

The Artsplace fillies MERCULESE (Mercy Mercy Mercy) VAIN IN SPAIN (Open Plains) and OZMOPOLITAN (Western Wizard) will satisfy even the most discerning.of eyes. The two Camluck’s CAMIFICATIONS (Ever And Again) and CAM THE TORPEDOS (Armbro Terrace) have Ontario Gold written all over. CAMIFICATIONS is the first Camluck brother to Dragon Again while CAM THE TORPEDOS is from a $300,000 plus winning sister to the dam of Georgia Pacific and Savannah Sky.

Hey Jeff Snyder you will like WESTAVERDE the Western Ideal brother to Pacey Deucey from Paulas Promise. And David and Misty Miller will need and want to get a look at AFTERNOONER, the Dream Vacation sister to their successful Maltese Malcom

And for you Blair Burgess there are some real nice Real Desire’s including MODERN DESIRE. brother to Modern Art from Wendy M Hanover. Also DESIFINADIA might be as nice a Nadia Lobell offering as she’s ever had. And just think of the first crop power ingredient Real Desire will provide..

As for some trotters, Echo Hanover’s Muscles Yankee son ECHOLOGICAL will command attention as will My Starchip’s Muscles Yankee filly VULCANIZE. Both could be showstoppers by sales time. And should those Dream Vacation live up to their training camp ballyhoo MY STAR TRECKER the filly from My Starlet will be a must see. As well she should be being a three quarter sister to My Starchip!!

MORE AS WE GO ALONG

Bob Marks