Local Hopes Ride on Seabiscuit Descendant
From the Kansas City Star, July 29, 2003, by JAMES HART  

For many moviegoers, the opening of "Seabiscuit" at the local cineplex offers pure entertainment.

For Sam LeVota, the film may also strike a personal chord. The Independence real estate appraiser owns a horse with blood ties to Seabiscuit, the Depression-era racehorse that is earning renewed fame.

Artless Encore, nicknamed "Big Red," is the great-great-grandson of the famous horse. The horse's lineage has been verified by Jockey Club Information Systems, a nationally known horse information service.

"He's such a part of the family. ... My grandchildren love him," LeVota said. The horse was a gift from a friend who could not continue caring for the animal.

Born in 1999, Artless Encore has never raced, though the family would like to race him some day, said Phil LeVota, Sam's son.

The horse suffered an injury to a front shoulder several months ago, and the LeVotas were worried that Artless Encore would be unable to race. A veterinarian, though, said the horse looks sound now and should be able to start training again soon.

"The trainers who had him before said he's got the most heart they've ever seen in a horse," Phil LeVota said.

Does Artless Encore look much like his famous forebear? No, Sam LeVota said, the younger horse is larger and better-looking. "He's a little bit bigger than other horses."  The LeVotas have no previous experience with horse racing. But they hope that Artless Encore might have not just Seabiscuit's blood, but his spirit, too.