This month's article...

For the past number of the decades, the 3-year-old classes of horses have been dubbed the "Glamour Divisions". These comprise the most watched, talked-about and often the fastest performers of our sport. And almost always, they finish the year with the highest seasonal bankrolls. 1998 will be no different in that regard.

However, as we head into the start of the 3-year-old racing season, there are many contenders for the "Crowns" in three of the four divisions ... the pacing colts and trotting colts and fillies have no obvious standouts - at least not yet.

But the 3-year-old fillies, as we will see in this month's BLOODlines, have sent two horses into the ring to do battle - two great fillies with much in common. It may be early in the year, but these two have already established their dominance of their peers. And at this point in time, the only question is "Will it be Armbro Romance ... or Galleria?"

	Armbro Romance 1:49.4 Photo courtesy of Monica Thors
	Galleria 1:50.1 Photo courtesy of Monica Thors

Armbro Romance and Galleria have a great deal in common. They are both by Artsplace ... both were lightly-raced and relatively unsuccessful (or unlucky) as 2-year-olds ... both boast central connections to the Campbell family (John and Jim) ... and both have authored world records in 1998.

Let's start with the world records, for these have been two of the most talked-about miles this year. On May 25, 1998, in the $200,000 Miss New Jersey Final, Galleria battled a Pelling four-horse entry (including Armbro Romance), to win in a new world record of 1:50.1 (27.3; 55.1; 1:23; 1:50.1), reducing by 3/5 the former record - set last fall by Steinam's Place.

Th race stood as the fastest of the Memorial day Meadowlands card ... and a full second faster than Shady Character would pace in winning the NJ Classic Final. Probably even more remarkable is that Armbro Romance was only a length back of Galleria at the wire.

Since that time - and as of this writing - Galleria has had to take a back seat to Armbro Romance, as the Armstrong Bros.-owned miss won the $100,000 New Jersey Sires final (1:51.1) on June 12 ... and then authored her own world record on Saturday June 28 - with a three length victory in a remarkable 1:49.4!!!

In that race, Armbro Romance sped to the lead in 27.2 before yielding briefly to Galleria (who had drawn the 12 post) at the half in 55. flat. Romance re-took the lead on the way to the 3/4's in 1:22.3 and sped home in 27.1 for the record mile. Galleria paced in vain (1:50.2), finishing second to the winner.

Sure, fast miles have been common-place over the past number of years - but looking at the chart below will bring to bear some interesting observations:

First of all, I don't think anyone will disagree that the fillies listed on the above chart have (generally-speaking) been among the great race-fillies of the past quarter century. Handle With Care took her mark in 1974, and it stood until 1980. Then it was two years til Three Diamonds lowered the standard ... and another two until Don't Dally lowered the mark to 1:51.3 - where it remained for the next seven years.

Shady Daisy was joined over the next six years by the great fillies Ellamony and Immortality, but it was not until last fall that the 1:51 barrier was broken by a 3-year-old filly - that feat being accomplished by Steinam's Place.

Up until this year, every single world record for 3-year-old fillies had been taken after August. Obviously, three-year-olds reach their peak in terms of stature, strength and ability by then. But, this year, Galleria and then Armbro Romance have lowered the standard TWICE before then end of June.

And, though it took from 1984 to 1997 (13 years) to lower the standard from Don't Dally's 1:51.3 to the 1:50.4 mark of Steinam's Place in 1997 ... eight months later, we have a new record that is a FULL SECOND faster than Steinam's Place. And, guess what? The stallion responsible for this action is none other than ... ARTSPLACE.

I know I have made a lot of noise around here the past couple of years about the get of this tremendous son of Abercrombie, but here we have it - again. In his first crop, Artsplace sires the fastest 3-year-old filly in history. And then in his second crop he sires two that are faster than that one. And each time one of these fillies re-wrote the record books - the other one was second. As I said before, I for one can hardly wait for the produce of these Artsplace mares - they're going to be something else.

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So, how about the similarities between Armbro Romance and Galleria?? Well, for one, they both raced four times as 2-year-olds. Armbro Romance's lines are intriguing - she made five qualifying starts between July 12 and September 16 last year, before finally finishing fourth (timed in 1:57.2) at Garden State on October 8. She then qualified again (1:55.4), and promptly broke her maiden the following week in 1:54.4. On October 31, she won an elimination of the Three Diamonds (1:54.1), but finished out her year with a first-over trip and faded to eighth (race-timed in 1:54.3) in the $506,700 Three Diamonds Final.

Four starts ... two wins ... less then $10,000 in the bank.

Galleria qualified on the same day as Romance's first "Q" - winning the July 12th mile in 1:57.1. She then went on to win two NJ Fair stakes at Gaitway Farms (1:56.3 and 1:55.4), before graduating to a NJSS win at Freehold on August 15 (1:57h). In the Lou Babic eliminations, Galleria defeated Mybrowneyedgirl (1:57.4). But as luck would have it, she was scratched sick from the final, and Jules and Arlene Siegel decided to hang up her shoes.

Four starts ... four wins ... less than $20,000 in the bank.

Then there is the "Campbell Connection". Galleria is trained by Jim Campbell and driven by George Brennan. Armbro Romance is trained by Brett Pelling and driven by John Campbell (Jim's brother). This brings another interesting sidelight to the competition between the two daughters of Artsplace

Finally - the bloodines.

Armbro Romance is out of Armbro Intimate, the unraced daughter of Cam Fella out of the crack B.G.'s Bunny mare Armbro Bramble. This makes Armbro Intimate the FULL SISTER to the top mare Cammie's Lady, p, 2, 1:55; 3, 1:52.2; 4, 1:52.1 ($638,508). Ahhhhh - if she don't do it - then her sister will ...

Galleria is out of the Sherman Almahurst mare Emory Girl, p, 2, 1:53.1; 3, 1:52.4 ($200,734), whose maternal bloodlines trace back through the sires Striking Image ... Grand R. Volo ... and Darnley. However, Emory Girl was arguably the best daughter of Sherman Almahurst (the best son of Royce), and her dam - Jodi's Image - produced the crack Distant Thunder colt Thunder's Image, p, 3, 1:53.1 ($541,024).

Earlier, I said there was a connection in the bloodlines of these two fillies - and there is. They both sport a double-cross to Albatross. Armbro Intimate (dam of Romance) is out of a B.G.'s Bunny mare, and B.G. is of course a son of Albatross. Artsplace is out of an Albatross mare - hence Armbro Romance is bred 3x4 to Albatross.

And Galleria is out of a Sherman Almahurst mare. Sherman is a son of Royce - who in turn is by Albatross ... again a 3x4 Albatross cross.

Of course, this is not unusual in the breeding of many of the top Artsplace performers, who find themselves crossed back to Albatross: Steinam's Place (3x4) ... Perfect Art (3x4) ... JK Outlaw (3x4) ... Michelle's Jackpot (3x3) ... Piece Of Art (3x3) ...

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So, my friends - we'll just have to watch with interest as the 3-year-old battles swing into high gear. From what I've seen so far, there are no standout pacing colts, particularly after a lacklustre performance by Sealed And Delivered in the North America Cup. Conway Hall is just starting back as I write this, as are his trotting rivals Muscles Yankee and Meadowbranch Mike. And the trotting fillieshave yet to proclaim a leader - though I must confess, it is an early season, and lots can (and usually will) happen before "the Fat Lady sings".

But Armbro Romance sure is off and running in her divisional title. And - at least at this point - Galleria appears to be the only one capable of knocking her down a notch.

And down the road we go.
Ralph.

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