Palette Knife

Eight fillies and mares passed the entry box yesterday for Saturday's Grade II, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, the co-centerpiece of Laurel Park's winter meeting.The top weight of 121 pounds was assigned to the John Kimmel-trained Catinca, a New York-based filly by Storm Cat who has won four straight races, including two straight Grade II events. She is 6-for-12 lifetime and has earned $343,235.Included was the Burning Daylight Farms entry of Palette Knife (second in last year's Fritchie)

If you've been wondering whether that battered desk Aunt Lavinia left you is worth restoring, Ina Brosseau Marx and Allen Marx may have your answer. After all, Professional Painted Finishes, the Princeton couple's 1991 book, demonstrated that, with patience and experimentation, it was possible to restore Asian lacquer and gilded objects to their original glory. According to Ina Marx, the book "convinced hundreds of people, many of them doctors and dentists, to start their own businesses restoring painted finishes."

The decision not to duck Catinca proved a sagacious one for Burning Daylight Farm yesterday.Argentine-bred Passeggiata, half of the Virginia farm's entry, outgunned the 1-to-2 favorite in a stirring stretch battle and won the 47th edition of the Grade II, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap by a nose at Laurel Park.The outcome was vindication for Burning Daylight and trainer A. Ferris Allen III after they lost the 1998 Fritchie by a head with Palette Knife, who finished fourth yesterday."I believe this is my first graded-stakes win," said Allen.

The decision not to duck Catinca proved a sagacious one for Burning Daylight Farm yesterday.Argentine-bred Passeggiata, half of the Virginia farm's entry, outgunned the 1-to-2 favorite in a stirring stretch battle and won the 47th edition of the Grade II, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap by a nose at Laurel Park.The outcome was vindication for Burning Daylight and trainer A. Ferris Allen III after they lost the 1998 Fritchie by a head with Palette Knife, who finished fourth yesterday."I believe this is my first graded-stakes win," said Allen.

The California faction may have been dissuaded by Catinca's presence in today's $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park, but Burning Daylight Farms hasn't backed off.With a substantial break in the weights for both horses, Burning Daylight and trainer A. Ferris Allen III are hoping that one of their "Trouble Twins" can spring an upset of the probable favorite, who arrived from Florida for the Grade II showdown for fillies and mares.The capable Palette Knife and Passeggiata are each coming off victories and, despite being an entry, they will probably will be good values on the tote board.

J J'sdream, a gray mare seeking redemption, found it yesterday in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.In a breathtaking race featuring three horses charging to the wire, the mare from New Orleans finished a head in front of Palette Knife, who edged Stylish Encore by a nose. Three abreast, the trio resembled Silver Charm, Free House and Captain Bodgit in last year's Preakness, which many said was one of the greatest races in Triple Crown history."It's good for horse racing. It gets the fans excited," said Larry Reynolds, the winning jockey.

Yesterday's muddy track produced a rash of scratches from the $75,000-added Miss Preakness Stakes, but it might not have mattered to Nic's Halo whom she ran against.As usual, the filly came out of the gate a step slowly, but once she got going, she rolled to the front and went on to a two-length score over Palette Knife."I told Rick [jockey Rick Wilson], she always breaks a step or two slow, but then she gets right into it," said winning trainer Bill Badgett. "A couple of speed horses scratched, so that helped."

TodayThe Northern Wolf Stakes kicks off a pair of $50,000 events at Laurel Race Course this weekend. A half-dozen familiar faces will line up for the 6-furlong affair headed by Wire Me Collect, Arthur Appleton's runner that fell a neck short of victory in the recent Bowie Stakes. With the exception of an embarrassing appearance at Belmont Park last autumn, Wire Me Collect has held his own with the locals while remaining absent from the winner's circle since the Hoover Stakes here last January.

If you've been wondering whether that battered desk Aunt Lavinia left you is worth restoring, Ina Brosseau Marx and Allen Marx may have your answer. After all, Professional Painted Finishes, the Princeton couple's 1991 book, demonstrated that, with patience and experimentation, it was possible to restore Asian lacquer and gilded objects to their original glory. According to Ina Marx, the book "convinced hundreds of people, many of them doctors and dentists, to start their own businesses restoring painted finishes."

What was looming as jockey Edgar Prado's most momentous day in horse racing took a sudden, bizarre twist in yesterday's final race at Laurel Park.Prado was loping along toward his 500th victory of the year when the filly he was riding, You Don't Say, broke down less than one-sixteenth of a mile from the wire.The field roared past before Prado's mount limped home and finished last in a field of nine $8,500 claiming horses. Favored Miss Malcolm F. went by first to capture the victory under Walter Cullum.

The California faction may have been dissuaded by Catinca's presence in today's $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park, but Burning Daylight Farms hasn't backed off.With a substantial break in the weights for both horses, Burning Daylight and trainer A. Ferris Allen III are hoping that one of their "Trouble Twins" can spring an upset of the probable favorite, who arrived from Florida for the Grade II showdown for fillies and mares.The capable Palette Knife and Passeggiata are each coming off victories and, despite being an entry, they will probably will be good values on the tote board.

Eight fillies and mares passed the entry box yesterday for Saturday's Grade II, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, the co-centerpiece of Laurel Park's winter meeting.The top weight of 121 pounds was assigned to the John Kimmel-trained Catinca, a New York-based filly by Storm Cat who has won four straight races, including two straight Grade II events. She is 6-for-12 lifetime and has earned $343,235.Included was the Burning Daylight Farms entry of Palette Knife (second in last year's Fritchie)

TodayThe Northern Wolf Stakes kicks off a pair of $50,000 events at Laurel Race Course this weekend. A half-dozen familiar faces will line up for the 6-furlong affair headed by Wire Me Collect, Arthur Appleton's runner that fell a neck short of victory in the recent Bowie Stakes. With the exception of an embarrassing appearance at Belmont Park last autumn, Wire Me Collect has held his own with the locals while remaining absent from the winner's circle since the Hoover Stakes here last January.

J J'sdream, a gray mare seeking redemption, found it yesterday in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.In a breathtaking race featuring three horses charging to the wire, the mare from New Orleans finished a head in front of Palette Knife, who edged Stylish Encore by a nose. Three abreast, the trio resembled Silver Charm, Free House and Captain Bodgit in last year's Preakness, which many said was one of the greatest races in Triple Crown history."It's good for horse racing. It gets the fans excited," said Larry Reynolds, the winning jockey.

What was looming as jockey Edgar Prado's most momentous day in horse racing took a sudden, bizarre twist in yesterday's final race at Laurel Park.Prado was loping along toward his 500th victory of the year when the filly he was riding, You Don't Say, broke down less than one-sixteenth of a mile from the wire.The field roared past before Prado's mount limped home and finished last in a field of nine $8,500 claiming horses. Favored Miss Malcolm F. went by first to capture the victory under Walter Cullum.

Yesterday's muddy track produced a rash of scratches from the $75,000-added Miss Preakness Stakes, but it might not have mattered to Nic's Halo whom she ran against.As usual, the filly came out of the gate a step slowly, but once she got going, she rolled to the front and went on to a two-length score over Palette Knife."I told Rick [jockey Rick Wilson], she always breaks a step or two slow, but then she gets right into it," said winning trainer Bill Badgett. "A couple of speed horses scratched, so that helped."

Edgewood resident and artist Michael Janouris says the message of his art is hope.And it's that message he wants people to get through his art, particularly next month when his first solo exhibition, "Spirituality and Man's Conflict," opens July 2 at the Artshowcase Gallery at 336 Charles St. in Baltimore. The show runs through July 11."I want to tell people that there is hope in the world. If they can find it in my art, then they can find it in themselves," says Janouris, who paints with his hands, not with a brush.

Edgewood resident and artist Michael Janouris says the message of his art is hope.And it's that message he wants people to get through his art, particularly next month when his first solo exhibition, "Spirituality and Man's Conflict," opens July 2 at the Artshowcase Gallery at 336 Charles St. in Baltimore. The show runs through July 11."I want to tell people that there is hope in the world. If they can find it in my art, then they can find it in themselves," says Janouris, who paints with his hands, not with a brush.