Hushion Pleased with Artemis Agrotera
Aside from the day's stakes action in the Lake George, the standout performance from Wednesday may well have belonged to Artemis Agrotera's commanding return in the sixth race, an allowance optional claiming event for New York-bred fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up.
The Grade 1 winner proved that she was back to her victorious ways, taking control early to lead the field gate-to-wire under a respectable pace of 22.78 seconds for the first-quarter mile, 45.22 for the half, and 1:09.11 for three-quarters. Unthreatened by her peers, Artemis Agrotera entered the stretch with an impressive lead and drew off to a 10 ¼-length victory under little urging from jockey Jose Ortiz to finish the seven furlongs in 1:22.20.
The daughter of Roman Ruler turned heads with a maiden-breaking debut at Saratoga last August and followed with a Grade 1 win in the Frizette in October at Belmont. The filly finished off the board as she took on tougher competition in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall and in her 2014 debut in the G1 Acorn on June 7 at Belmont.
Her trainer, Michael Hushion, acknowledged that he was unsure of what to expect in yesterday's race, but was pleased.
"I think she showed that [she's back] today," he said. "She wasn't even running to the quarter pole when she didn't run well. I'm not sure exactly what it was. Every day I get up, I know less. She had shown all that talent and not to get it out of her again, I was just worried."
Hushion expects Artemis Agrotera to stretch out again in the future, although not perhaps right away.
"I think we're going to want to go farther," he said. "I don't think we'll jump to a mile and an eighth the next time, but I still think she can go a mile and an eighth."
Chester and Mary Broman's homebred boasts a career record of three wins in five starts and earnings of $463,800.
The Bromans' other contender, entrymate Spinit to Winit, proved second best in the race, finishing a length ahead of third-place runner Irish Sweepstakes.
Even with her slump seemingly behind her, Hushion said the team was not yet thinking about where to go next.
"We're going to get through today and take a deep breath," he said. "I haven't even opened the book to look."
Artemis Agrotera's win capped a successful day for her connections as the Bromans, Hushion and Ortiz teamed up in the race before with Girlaboutown. The 3-year-old daughter of A. P. Indy had finished a solid second to entrymate Star Grazing in her debut at Belmont on July 5.
On Wednesday, however, Girlaboutown was not to be denied, kicking clear to win by 10 ¼ lengths over the favored Verismilitude, in a six-furlong maiden special weight.