Artemis Agrotera rolls into Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the weeks and months leading into the Breeders’ Cup, there have been a number of impressive efforts turned in by some of the leading candidates. Few, however, have matched the “wow” factor elicited by Artemis Agrotera in her last three starts.

A 3-year-old New York-bred filly, Artemis Agrotera became a major contender for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint by reeling off blowout victories in a July 23 allowance and the Aug. 23 Ballerina at Saratoga, followed by a narrow “How’d she get there?” triumph in her final prep, the Sept. 20 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions, comments, and odds

Artemis Agrotera was flown here early in the week and was bedded down in Barn 6 near the main quarter-pole gap in the Santa Anita stable area. Just before Artemis Agrotera went out for exercise for the second straight morning Wednesday, trainer Mike Hushion said everything had gone smoothly for her since the Gallant Bloom.

“She’s been training extremely forwardly,” said Hushion, who trains the homebred filly for Chester and Mary Broman. “We’re very happy with her. Now we just need some racing luck.”

Hushion acknowledged that there isn’t a world of early speed among the 10 horses in the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint, which goes as the sixth of 12 Saturday races (post time, 1:21 p.m. Pacific). On paper, anyway, it looks as if Stonetastic will go for the early lead from post 3, with Artemis Agrotera among the closest pursuers.

:: DRF Live: Real-time updates from the Breeders’ Cup, including live video coverage

“To my way of handicapping, that’s the way it looks like to me,” said Hushion.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

This will be the sixth Breeders’ Cup starter for Hushion, a 66-year-old New York City native who has won more than 1,300 races in a training career that began nearly 40 years ago. His best BC finish came in the 2012 Sprint when The Lumber Guy was second to Trinniberg. Last year, off a victory in the Grade 1 Frizette, Artemis Agrotera ran a distant fifth in the BC Juvenile Fillies as the 7-2 second choice.