Sky Flight takes inaugural Artie Schiller
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Ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, trainer Mark Casse's Sky Flight received a perfect trip en route to a narrow victory in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Artie Schiller on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Leaving from post 1 in the one-mile turf event, Sky Flight stalked the early pace along the rail as Plainview showed the way through moderate fractions of 24.18 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 49.29 for the half and 1:13.83 for three-quarters.
Turning for home, Aztec Brave, winner of the Danger's Hour over the Big A turf in the spring, edged away from Plainview, but was confronted soon thereafter by Sky Flight, who overtook his stubborn rival in the final jumps to prevail by a nose. The 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa completed the distance in 1:37.69.
"I was very confident," said Rosario. "He's the kind of horse if he sees a horse in front he comes and gets it. Every time he saw [Aztec Brave] he just kept on coming, kept on coming. He didn't want to get beat."
Owned by John Oxley, Sky Flight upped his bankroll to $243,940 and returned $12.20 on a $2 win wager.
Aztec Brave finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of 5-2 favorite Reload. Plainview, Vision Perfect, Lubash, English Minister, El Jefe Grande, Slip By and Any Given Royal completed the order of finish.
Source - NYRA Communications
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