MATCHMAKER MATCHMAKER
MAKE ME A MATCH
The Meadowlands and Perretti Farms announce the launching of the inaugural PERRETTI MATCHMAKER STAKES scheduler for July 15th at The Meadowlands where the winner receives a seasonal breeding to any Perretti Farms trotting stallion in addition to the estimated $100,000 purse. The race will be limited to trotting mares and is placed just prior to the Classic Series leg and final which should keep the top trotting mares at The Big M for most of July. The stallions include Muscles Yankee, Windsong’s Legacy, Revenue and Dream Vacation. No fiddling on this roof! Right Tevye?

NAME THAT FOAL
The Meadowlands will also be sponsoring a name the foal contest for the newborn filly from champion Worldly Beauty sired by Western Ideal. Gotta figure that with Western Ideal and Worldly Beauty to work with, some respondees are liable to come up with rather intriguing suggestions. The filly as reported here last week is doing just fine.

Worldly Beauty got bred to Cams Card Shark last Friday.

There’s thought that Western Hanover may have actually outsired himself with Western Ideal, Western Shooter and The Panderosa. Not so sure Artsplace has done likewise even with his multitude of champion colts and fillies- don’t know if any have actually eclipsed the old man.

As great as he himself may have been one could still make a strong case that Albatross did outsire himself with Niatross! However it’s open to debate whether or not Niatross followed suit with Nihilator.

Thanks to Dom Rebelo’s video magic just got a chance to see Albatross in his then world record 1:54.3f at the old Sportsmans Park in 1972. Believe a pair of Tar Heel’s Kentucky and Nansemond were runner ups that night.

Bret Hanover never sired one as in the same league as he was though sons Warm Breeze and Storm Damage both outdid themselves with Falcon Seelster and Call For Rain respectively.

Speedy Crown did not outshine his sire Speedy Scot on the racetrack although he certainly was light years ahead in the stud barn.

Always thought Columbia George was the best racing son of Good Time.

One thing about the upcoming Kentucky Derby is how the race itself does transcend the equine competitors. In just about any other classic it’s the horses that stand above the stake.

CAT CREATES STORM
Speaking of the Derby, the fact that Sweet Catomine was ‘unfit” to run in The Santa Anita Derby is something that happens far more than track managements might choose to acknowledge. Perhaps some method of no malice scratching should be augmented as it’s eminently preferable for non-competitive horses to remain in the barn rather than be on the track burning public money. This regardless of how the removal of a major contestant may impact the marketing promotions.

Never once heard a bettor who just blew a hundred on a “non-competitor” slough it off as “understandable”. To them it’s a rip off and rightly so.

There’s a huge difference between coming up sore during course of a race as opposed to going in sore due to a reluctance to scratch for whatever the reason.

If nothing else whoever came up with the name Sweet Catomine by the great Storm Cat of course has to be a Neil Diamond fanatic. You’d have to think so right Murray Brown? Right Jim Sullivan???

Maltese Artist (Artiscape-Hula Dancer) may have just missed catching Canyon Wind in the Meadowlands Open last week in 1:49.1. That :26.1 closing kicker in what was actually a second move was INDEED eyecatching. Full brother Artestian impressed at Woodbine for Brett Robinson in 1:50 and a.piece.

Maltese Artist drew the rail for tonight’s (April 18th) $85,000 Classic series pace at Dover Downs. Another Artiscape headliner Rainbow Blue, last year’s horse of the year drew inside of main opponent Loyal Opposition in the filly classic. Won’t be at all shocked if Artbritration still another quality Artiscape filly makes her presence felt in that one.

Brian Montgomery mentioned that HER CULESE (Muscles Yankee-Flirty Two) has returned a very serious young lady this year at three. That’s certainly music to these ears especially when her $300,000 winning Malabar Man sister Funny Malentine has just been pronounced in foal to Muscles Yankee.

Funny but when racetracks never publish attendance and handle figures one can’t help suspecting that there’s something to hide.

Heard that Laugh A Day passed on after delivering a Badlands Hanover. Know PRECISELY where I was situated that night at Tattersalls when the full sister to Tarport Hap and Tyler B blitzed the auction board at $625,000 in 1983.

Don’t know about you but thought it was rather appropriate theatre when the Four Starzzz man Jeff Cohen personally paraded his pacing star Four Starzzz Shark in the retirement ceremonies at The Red Mile last year.

Don’t know what it means in the long run but these Real Desire babies are all pace out in the field alongside their mothers. Couldn’t help but notice the impressive slick going colt from Armbro Terrace despite his tender age

Why didn’t someone name a Bunny colt B.G.’s Berkner???

Scarlet Knight is back sharp. The Pine Chip-Ruby Crown son impressed in his return engagement winning by some two dozen lengths in 1:53.4. . Scarlet Knight is being pointed for the Elitlopp on May 29th where he’ll meet up with Mr. Muscleman amongst others.

Have to believe that the news how Revenue’s book has just about filled at this point would have brought a huge smile to the face of no longer with us good friend and colleague Tony Pedone. Tony was a staunch advocate for the blending of French stamina with American speed back in the old Boardwalk days.

On the subject of late great friends and colleagues, had several discussions with Norman bout whether or not the ’64 Pacing Classic in Hollywood was conducted in a fog and neither one us could locate substantiating documentation. That it until now, as the November 6th 1964 issue of The Trotter Magazine contains a stretch photo of Meadow Skipper clearly drawing away from Tarquinius and Henry T Adios. The day may not have started out that way but it looks like conditions were ok by post time.

Perhaps Microsoft Word could recognize that not all horse names are dictionarily correct and desist in this incessant red lining every time words like Malabar, Artiscape, Tattersalls or heaven forbid Tarquinius, Niatross or Nihilator get typed for this column,
Imagine how WORD might have reacted to Pernament Wave who fortunately will probably not merit further mention!

Direct Scooter has passed on at 29 and his legacy will be noted for quite some time with successful sons Matt’s Scooter and In The Pocket and their respective sons of Mach Three, Royal Mattjesty, His Mattjesty and Christian Cullen. Called the “outcross” stallion, Direct Scooter was actually an OUTCROSS OUTLET as he himself as linebred 3x4 to Volomite. What he did was outcross superbly with the predominance of Hal Dale line mares through the Meadow Skipper sons and grandsons. While his all time fastest Matt’s Scooter was from a Meadow Skipper mare, Direct Scooter seemed to have a particular affinity for B.G.’s Bunny mares getting so many memorable performers from mares by that son of Albatross-Brets Romance.

The first inkling that Direct Scooter was going to make an impact was the ill fated Armbro Elvis from Sunnie Tar’s daughter Armbro Pammy.

Royal Mattjesty’s younger but somewhat lookalike sister Mattmoiselle just dropped a nice Western Ideal filly. Got a dandy Muscles colt from Vernon Blue Chip and what could be a very choice Artsplace colt from the well bred Newport Way she by The Panderosa from the well remembered Paling Avenue. Also a very nice Red River Hanover colt from Second Term she a fast Presidential Ball sister to the 1:50.1 pacer Stunner. The Red Rivers are good lookers thus far as are the McArdles.

Good call by Scotty Tickets tabbing True Force (Falcon Seelster-Kravis Center) as one to watch as the Ken Rucker trainee humbled a respectable 3-year-old field by some 5 lengths in an eyecatching 1:50.3. The sharp eyed “Commissioner” first mentioned this Perretti bred 3-year-old several weeks ago having watched him at Freehold. Give credit where it’s due, it was The Commissioner who first “mentioned” Jr. Mint long before that Northern Luck colt attained prominence.

The dam Kravis Center by Artsplace from champion Hit Parade has a license to throw a good one.

More next week

Bob Marks