Pop Artist ships over from Hastings

Hastings-based Pop Artist could be singing a winning tune when he runs in the $50,000 Western Handicap for 3-year-olds at Northlands Park on Wednesday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature drew seven horses and goes as the eighth race on the Canada Day card that begins at 1 p.m.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Pop Artist has been an impressive winner in both of his starts at Hastings. A Florida-bred colt by Songsandaprayer, Pop Artist was part of a package of horses purchased from the Darley Stable by Swift Thoroughbreds earlier this year. Pop Artist beat a couple of pretty nice horses in his two wins for Swift. He easily handled Gotta Find Bubba in a $50,000 optional race on April 26. Gotta Find Bubba won the CTHS Sales Stakes on June 14. Senor Rojo, who finished second in Pop Artist's win on May 17, easily won a first-level allowance race on June 7.

"He has turned out to be a real nice horse for us," said Condilenios. "I don't know how he'll handle the ship, but if all goes well he should be right there - I hope."

Ismael Mosqueira retains the mount.

Casey's on Call, who is trained by Riley Rycroft, figures to move forward off of his second-place finish in the Presidents Handicap on June 6. It was Casey's on Call's first start at Northlands. In his previous race he finished fifth in the $150,000 Woodstock at Woodbine on April 26.

Island Drum is lightly raced but has some talent. He won a $50,000 maiden race in his debut at Gulfstream Park on March 1. In his second start he finished a distant fifth in the $100,000 Wando Stakes on April 25.