McARDLE CHARMS HIS WAY TO THE WINNERS CIRCLE

McArdles Charm (McArdle-Eternal Sweetheart) became the first of what should be many McArdle winners via a 1:59.2 win in a Pocono qualifier last week. He subsequently came back to win by 16 open lengths in a sparkling 1:57f.

Shortly thereafter Southwind Triumph (Tsunami Hanover) and ValMctorian were impressive baby race winners at The Meadowlands. The former a brother to Southwind Tempo paced home in:27.2 in an eye catching seven length victory.

McArdle’s Charm and ValMctorian were purchased from the Perretti Farms consignments to The New Jersey Classic and Harrisburg last fall for $44,000 and $18,000 respectively.

The colt’s dam Eternal Sweetheart is a No Nukes daughter of Matternity (Matt’s Scooter-Jefs Eternity) while ValMctorian is from Penn Grad a No Nukes sister to Cambest.

A MUSCULAR ATTEMPT
He didn’t win the Elitlopp but Mr. Muscleman certainly showed the trotting world just what he’s made of getting parked the entire mile in the first heat and taking the last turn three wide. Then in the final he was used and pressed repeatedly and just nipped at wire by the pocket sitting L’Amiral Mauzin, a French sired 8-year-old from a Workaholic mare who seems still another example of the potent Franco-American cross ala our own sire Revenue.

For the record, the first Revenue colts and fillies will hit the sales this fall and thus far they are uniformly sensational.

AN UNCOUPLED COUPLE
Lis Mara and Shark Gesture may have been stable mates but in that the Mohawk and Classic series chose to uncouple them for wagering purposes it was refreshing to see them driven competitively in last week’s $85,000 classic pace. It’s not often you see members of the same barn engage in what John Bothe used to refer to as a little “hardball” during his announcing day at The Meadowlands.

After all, it IS competitive horse racing first and foremost.

THE PIERCE SUSPENSION
Whereas we’ve seen many an infraction gone unpunished or better yet unnoticed over the years, not all that sure what Ron Pierce did that was so terrible across the pond in Sweden.

Perhaps it should be considered that Mr. Muscleman is a long time veteran of the racing wars and well accustomed to being handled in a certain fashion. One would think that if it means some enthusiastic urging in the height of battle, it would simply be part of his overall racing repertoire.

A RAPID RED GIRL
Rapid Red Girl (Red River Hanover-Fast Future) looked like a filly with a big future winning her baby race at the Meadowlands by a city block inn 1:57.2

Indications are, she’ll be the first of many RAPID Red River Hanover productions.

INTERESTING RATINGS
Not so sure we can endorse the USTA’s top 10 3-year-old trotting rankings in the June Hoofbeats as anything more than mere editorial opinion seeing as how “10th rated Self Possessed” probably would have beaten all of them on a best day they ever saw basis.

Won’t dispute the Mack Lobell placement given the all around brilliance he displayed but definitely feel that Continental Victory would have prevailed over the other listed fillies.

UNCLASSICS
Once again, the Classic finals have drawn less than full fields in three of the four events. Undoubtedly there will be those questioning the method of funding Classic funding once again.

QUESTIONS
Great that Tioga and Vernon will add Video Streamlining to their web presentations and curious why more tracks aren’t taking advantage of video technology and the race replay systems? Especially since so many races wind up going off at what appears rather oddball hours these days.

What exactly is the daily viewer head count at RTN and HPITV (formerly Canadian TRN)?

Was it a misprint or were comparable purses actually lowered at a newly installed slots emporium?

HMMMM
Thought names denoting stallions and broodmares were immune from being reused but there’s a DREAM MAKER currently racing who is most definitely NOT by Race Time-Dreamy Yeardo AND there’s a mare named ADORA at Cal Expo in tonight who is most definitely NOT the dam of Adora’s Dream and Bill Sheehan’s foundation mare K Nora. Curious!

Bob Marks