Fresh Artemis Agrotera Can Win the Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint

Out of sight, out of mind -- no starts in twelve full months and people tend to forget your name. In the case of Artemis Agrotera, though, we better start remembering the extremely talented filly, in advance of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. To set the mood, let’s take a look at Artemis Agrotera in action last fall in winning the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park. Pretty amazing stretch run, right? I know what you’re thinking, though … That’s all fine and good, but how can she win this race, having not run in a calendar year? Good question, and one that I would like to answer today, because not only do I think she can win, but I think she will win. In my, opinion, Artemis Agrotera has several important factors going for her.

Sprinters run fresh, and Artemis Agrotera should be no different. Running your best at sprint distances is generally a much easier proposition than attempting to do it in a route race, first time off the bench. In the first race of her life, the Chestertown Farm homebred won by nearly 12 lengths. She came out of that debut win to score in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes in her second career start. Clearly this is a filly that can come out running. Not to mention that her trainer, Michael Hushion, is one of the best in the business, and I have little doubt that he will have this talented filly ready to fire a big shot. Which leads me to another interesting point.

If she wasn’t doing great, would her connections be willing to take such an unusual shot? The answer is no. The reason that Artemis Agrotera is running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is because her connections know her so well. They know that she is doing extremely well right now, and they know that this big test is in no way beyond her limits.

The distance of seven furlongs is right up the daughter of Roman Ruler’s alley. Not all sprinters appreciate the final furlong of a seven furlong race, and that is certainly true for some of the fillies and mares that she will be facing on Saturday. Artemis Agrotera, on the other hand, is built for seven panels. The Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga is proof of that; just look at her explode away from the field. And just in case you were worried about her class -- Not so coincidently, that was La Verdad that she was beating in both of these nice wins from 2014. Obviously, it is a new year, but I do think it is just a little bit telling to see what the speedy New York-bred has done in 2015 without Artemis Agrotera to worry about. That is until now. On Saturday one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup has much to worry about in her old nemesis.

For the sake of full disclosure, this will not be the first attempt for Artemis Agrotera in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. In fact, she has tried the Breeders’ Cup twice before, having finished 5th in the Juvenile Fillies in 2013, and 7th in the Filly & Mare Sprint last year. Why has she not demonstrated her best so far in the Breeders’ Cup? I am betting that the fact that both of those races took place in California, at Santa Anita, is the main factor in her past disappointments. 2015, and a Keeneland Breeders' Cup is a new year for Artemis Agrotera

Last year, I considered Artemis Agrotera to be one of the finest sprinters in the land. You pretty much had to after races like the ones you see above. Now it’s time to prove just how good she is. Despite not having raced all year, it still can be a great season for her. One race can make it so, and I'm expecting Artemis Agrotera to run huge fresh in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.