Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) hero ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) made his 2006
debut as the defending champion in the Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G2) in mid-April,
dueling on the lead before just falling short by a nose at the wire. On
Saturday, the bay horse will try again for a winner’s circle photo when taking
on six rivals in the $250,000
Dixie S.
(G2) at Pimlico. The nine-furlong turf test is one of eight stakes events
scheduled on the undercard of the featured Preakness S. (G1).
Artie Schiller is following the same path that led to a Breeders’ Cup victory
last year. After scoring in the 2005 Maker’s Mark Mile, the James Jerkens charge
went on to finish second by a nose in the Dixie, a half-length third in the
Manhattan H. (G1), captured the Bernard Baruch H. (G2) and was a head second in the
Kelso Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). He ended the season with a three-quarter of a
length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile under Garrett Gomez, who returns for
the ride on Saturday.
Among those Artie Schiller will face on Saturday is BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin
Man), who also ran in last year’s Dixie. The Graham Motion-conditioned veteran
posted century-topping BRIS Speed numbers in eight of his last nine U.S. starts,
and will enter Saturday’s grass test off a near six-month break, having last
competed in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) in late November.
Better Talk Now will run coupled with stablemate SHAKE THE BANK (Sandpit
[Brz]), who drew the rail post under a 118-pound impost that includes jockey Tom
Turner. To his outside will be DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet), Alex Solis, 118; Better
Talk Now, Ramon Dominguez, 124; DR DETROIT (Wayne County [Ire]), Rosie Napravnik,
118; SABRE D’ARGENT (Kris S.), Javier Castellano, 118; REBEL REBEL (Ire) (Revoque),
Edgar Prado, 118; and Artie Schiller, 124.
King Leatherbury had contemplated running AH DAY (Malibu Moon) in the
Preakness, but in the end, the conditioner opted to send his charge to the
$100,000
Sir Barton S. on the undercard instead of paying a $100,000 fee to
supplement him to the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Leatherbury, who is
the third winningest trainer in the history of horse racing with more than 6,000
wins, has yet to make a mistake with the bay gelding, which doesn’t bode well
for the other six runners in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton.
Ah Day proved he was more than just a very nice sprinter when taking the
nine-furlong Federico Tesio H. by an easy 5 1/2 lengths last out. He also just
missed by a neck in the one-mile Private Terms S. three back and will keep Ryan Fogelsonger in the saddle on Saturday.
VEGAS PLAY (Exploit) will lead the post parade while carrying 120 pounds,
including Dominguez. Ah Day, under the co-highweight of 122 pounds will be next,
and will be followed by HIGH COTTON (Dixie Union), Gomez, 122; OUR PEAK (Peaks and
Valleys), Napravnik, 120; LITTLE CLIFF (Gulch), Jeremy Rose, 118; SHARPS ISLAND
(Deputy Minister), Enrique Jurado, 116; and ULTIMATE GOAL (Storm Cat), Prado,
118.
GAFF (Maria’s Mon) earned a berth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) after
stringing together three straight wins that culminated in the Mr. Prospector H.
(G3). He finished a nice fifth in Dubai, and will enter Saturday’s $250,000
Maryland Breeders’ Cup Sprint H. (G3) off a that effort. Two races later
ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) will continue his quest for a first win of
2006 in the $100,000
William
Donald Schaefer H. (G3), which could also feature champion FUNNY CIDE
(Distorted Humor) if trainer Barclay Tagg scratches him out of Friday’s Pimlico
Special (G1).
Fourteen turf distaffers have been entered in the $100,000
Gallorette H. (G3) and Mrs. Revere S. (G2) queen MY TYPHOON (Ire) (Giant’s
Causeway) will try to make her four-year-old debut a winning one in the 1
1/16-mile test. Prior to that one, stakes hero URBAN GUY (Marquetry) highlights
a field of eight in the $100,000
Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) going six furlongs.
Saturday’s stakes action will begin in the 4TH race on Saturday, the $50,000
Murmur
Farm Starter H., which will be followed by the $100,000
Baltimore Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint S.