Artemis Agrotera going to Acorn

Artemis Agrotera, the winner of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont last fall, will make her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 1, $750,000 Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day, June 7, trainer Mike Hushion said Monday. Artemis Agrotera, who has not raced since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, had been under consideration for Saturday’s $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred fillies as a prep for the Mother Goose on June 28.

“She seemed dead fit, she seemed on top of her game. I couldn’t let a race like this go,” Hushion said Monday after Artemis Agrotera worked five furlongs in 59.34 seconds over Belmont’s main track. “Normally, you would think that she would need a prep, but I don’t think this filly does. She’s been training very forward. She’s just been cruising.”

Hushion said Artemis Agrotera was turned out on the farm by owner Chester Broman for 3 1/2 months, with the idea of having a fresh filly for the summer.

“She had done enough last year. Let’s let her grow up a little bit,” Hushion said.