from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Art’s A Flutter has far exceeded trainer Bob McIntosh’s expectations, so much so, he may have to get his checkbook out.

“I under-staked her because I never thought she was this kind of filly,” McIntosh said. “I wish she was in more and we’ll look at possibly supplementing her.”

Art’s A Flutter has won six of her seven career starts and looks to give her bankroll a big boost in the $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stake Final for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday night (June 22) at the Meadowlands. She is rated as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the fifth race and will start from the rail (number two in the program) with John Campbell at the lines.

The homebred daughter of Artiscape-Sammies Cammi did not race at two.

“She’s certainly come a long way in a short time,” said McIntosh, who shares ownership of the filly with Leo Beaudoin and David Kryway. “I raced and raised her dam, Sammies Cammi. Last year, as a 2-year-old, she was a big, growthy filly and she showed some talent, but had some soreness. When I brought her back in she had really grown into herself and exceeded my expectations by a long ways. I thought she was going to be a good, useful raceway filly and she has been a surprise. Once we got to the point where I qualified her and I buzzed her a couple of pieces, I knew she got over the ground easily. I started to think we had something extra special on our hands.”

Art’s A Flutter won the first five starts of her career in Canada before shipping to New Jersey. She was a game second after a tough first-over trip in her Meadowlands debut, the second leg of the NJSS on June 8. In last week’s round three, she crushed her foes with a decisive first-over win in a lifetime best 1:51.1.

“Those miles at Woodbine and Mohawk were well in hand and you can do anything you want with her,” McIntosh said. “She hasn’t gotten any favors in terms of trips down there (at the Meadowlands). Both times she’s had first-over trips. At least we drew the rail for that final.”

McIntosh is gearing up another 3-year-old for the stakes trail at the Meadowlands. He finished third in the 2003 Hambletonian with Cash Hall, and he hopes to be a player this year with The Liquidator. Though the Andover Hall colt has made only three pari-mutuel starts, McIntosh is optimistic about his chances for a bid at the $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday, August 4, at the Meadowlands.

“I have a nice Andover Hall colt named The Liquidator, who showed a lot of go all winter,” he said. “He got beat right at the wire in his first two starts, we scoped him and he had a big ulcer on his palate. He’ll be back next week and he has a lot of talent. He’s a Hambletonian eligible and I think he can go with them.”

McIntosh also has plans to ship Stonebridge Regal back to the Meadowlands for the William R. Haughton Memorial eliminations on July 7.

“Stonebridge Regal didn’t race well in last week’s Pacing Classic Final (finished last among four starters at Mohawk), but he seemed to come out of it fine. I’m racing him at Hazel Park this Saturday. That race will determine whether we ship him down there for the Haughton.”

Spring Break could give Beeckman big start to Summer

Spring Break, a longshot in the $175,000 New Jersey Sires Stake Final for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday night, is one of several young horses trainer Randy Beeckman is gearing up for the rich races ahead at the Meadowlands.

She is rated at 15-1 from post seven in the featured fifth race. Bred and owned by Winbak Farm, the daughter of Dream Away is in search of her first win this season. She has hit the board in nine of 18 career starts and was full of pace in the lane last week as she finished second behind Art’s A Flutter in round two of the NJSS.

“Spring Break has some ability, but there are some tough fillies in that final and I don’t know if she’s quite fast enough,” Beeckman said. “She gets a little bumpy at times, but she’s been pretty good lately and improving. Again, I just don’t know if she can go in 1:50 and a piece yet. I’ve had her all along. I was actually surprised she made the final. I thought they went a little slower than they should have last week. If they go like that again she’s got a shot.”

Beeckman, 39, was the caretaker of 1987 and 1988 Horse of the Year Mack Lobell, campaigned by Hall of Fame trainer Chuck Sylvester. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Beeckman went to school with Sylvester’s sons and started working in his stable when he was 11. He stayed with the Sylvester barn until 2005 before going out on his own.

Beeckman’s goal is to specialize in stakes quality horses, while keeping his stable at a manageable number. He particularly enjoys spending the extra time needed to educate young horses.

Beeckman has two young horses, Swanderful and Daliance, aimed at trotting’s premier events, the $1.5 million Hambletonian and $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks on Saturday, August 4 at the Meadowlands. Swanderful finished second by a neck in his last start on June 13.

“Swanderful hopefully will be ready for Historic Week (Dickerson Cup on June 29 at the Meadowlands),” he said. “Then it’s on to the Stanley Dancer (Memorial on July 14) and hopefully the Hambletonian. He didn’t want to pass that horse (Jetn Lindy) last week. I’m going to change his bridle a bit and let him see more. He’s still a green horse who doesn’t quite know what he’s doing yet. I believe it’s more of a head thing with him and he just needs more racing experience.

“Daliance is racing in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows on Saturday,” he added. “She’s a green filly and I’m just trying to get her going.”