In one of the more emphatic displays of superiority seen at the recent Saratoga meet, the three-year-old filly Artemis Agrotera slammed older rivals by 6 1/2 lengths in the August 23 Ballerina for her second career Grade 1 victory.
The daughter of Roman Ruler will attempt to replicate that outcome Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park, a 6 ½-furlong prep for the upcoming Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.
As was the case in the Ballerina, Artemis Agrotera will break from the rail in the Gallant Bloom, with only five rivals to her outside. The New York-bred has proven a world-beater at the Spa, winning all three outings at the ancient Union Avenue course by a combined 28 ½ lengths, but hasn't been quite as invincible elsewhere.
Although a 1 ¼-length winner of last year's Frizette over Sweet Reason, who endured a troubled trip, Artemis Agrotera finished up the track in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the June 7 Acorn at Belmont over a mile.
The Gallant Bloom figures to play out like the Ballerina with the sophomore chasing La Verdad early. That filly ran fifth in both the Honorable Miss and Ballerina during the Saratoga season after starting her career nine-for-11, but is undefeated in three outings over the Belmont strip. The Linda Rice trainee scored her most important victory at Aqueduct in April when she took the Distaff Handicap in wire-to-wire fashion by 3 3/4 lengths.
Merry Meadow has enjoyed a solid campaign this season, taking the course-and-distance Vagrancy Handicap by 3 ¾ lengths back in May, and following up with a photo-finish loss in the Bed o' Roses Handicap and a third in the Honorable Miss. The Henny Hughes filly has never finished out of the money in eight tries over Big Sandy.
Bridgehampton figures to show early gas as well. The Bernardini filly romped by more than five lengths in the My Juliet at Parx Racing two back, and last time trailed home fourth, by only 1 ½ lengths, in the $95,000 Shine Again at Saratoga. That race's other three participants were Grade 1 winners Better Lucky and Grace Hall, and champion My Miss Aurelia.
Willet, one of three New York natives in the field, was a distant third in the Ballerina. The Grade 2-placed mare has won several state-bred stakes in recent years. Completing the field is Grade 2-placed Classic Point, who has posted strong works leading up to her debut for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, whose father Allen previously trained the Flatter mare.