Tattoo Artist scores, USA/Italy amateur competition complete

Despite having to race in a sudden rainstorm, Tattoo Artist (He’s Watching) and driver Jason Bartlett were able to overcome starting from the far outside in post eight and score with ease in the Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway Monday (Aug. 8).

Bartlett sent Tattoo Artist to the front once the starting gate got out of the way with American Dealer N (Joe Bongiorno) able to grab the two-hole spot to follow the live cover.

Tattoo Artist cut fractions of :27.3 and :56.1 as no one offered any challenge from the outside. By the three-quarters in 1:23.3, Semi Tough (George Brennan) came first-over, but could not gain any ground on the leaders.

By the top of the stretch, Tattoo Artist began to pour it on and crossed the wire up by three lengths in 1:51. American Dealer N was second with Semi Tough third.

TATTOO ARTIST REPLAY

It was the second straight win and sixth triumph of the season for Tattoo Artist. The five-year-old stallion is trained by Chris Ryder for co-owners Let It Ride Stable, Inc, Frank Cannon and Diamond Creek Racing. He paid $5.40 to win.

The final two events in the USA/Italy Friendship Competition were both contested at Yonkers Monday, one on the betting card and one off and each competed for a purse of $20,000.

In the wagering trot, Italy’s Maurizio Biasucci scored with Tom Me Gun N (Courage Under Fire) in 1:57 while John Calabrese was victorious with So Long Hanover (Donato Hanover) in 1:58 in the non-betting contest.

It was hard to tell the players in the competition…besides the four Italians the USA was represented by eight American drivers of Italian descent.

In the first (non-wagering) event the USA’s Tony Beltrami sent Chief Justice to the lead and they were first by the quarter in :27.4. They had command by the half in :58.1 and got first call at three quarters in 1:28.

But all was not well as Calabrese had So Long Hanover in high gear and they took command at the top of the stretch and went on to a three length triumph over Chief Justice. Third place went to J A T O with Italian Francesco Caruso aboard.

The winner is owned by Durazzano stable and trained by Augustino Abbatiello.

In the betting contest Maurizio Biasuzzi sent Tom Me Gun N to the lead which they gained after a :27.4 first panel. Once on top he had to contend with Jessica’s Beach Boy (Francesco Caruso) and they battled side by side all the way to the top of the stretch before Tom Me Gun N trotted clear and went on to a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:57. Jessica’s Beach Boy was second best and Woodmere Skyroller finished third for Matt Zuccarello.

TOM ME GUN N REPLAY

The winner, a 10-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, is owned by Jesmeral Stables and trained by Donald Sider. He paid $3,60 for the win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, and John Manzi, for NAADA