Artemis Agrotera romps in Ballerina Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Artemis Agrotera erased all memories of her disappointing performances in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and earlier this year in the Acorn with a dominating, geared-down, 6 1/2-length victory over My Miss Aurelia in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga.

The Ballerina gave Artemis Agrotera, a 3-year-old homebred daughter of Roman Ruler owned by Chester and Mary Broman and trained by Mike Hushion, her second Grade 1 victory. She also captured the one-mile Frizette last fall at Belmont Park. Artemis Agrotera’s final time of 1:21.89 was 0.46 seconds faster than The Big Beast covered the same distance winning the Grade 1 King’s Bishop earlier on the card.

With Rajiv Maragh aboard for the first time, Artemis Agrotera broke alertly from the rail to stalk the early pace from outside La Verdad, who posted legitimate fractions of 22.88 seconds and 46.05 for the opening quarter and half-mile of the seven-furlong Ballerina. Maragh set Artemis Agrotera down approaching the quarter pole, and it took her an eighth of a mile before finally heading the tiring leader nearing the furlong marker. But once in front, Artemis Agrotera continued to accelerate, steadily increasing her advantage under strong handling before being eased up by Maragh with the issue no longer in doubt in deep stretch.

My Miss Aurelia, the tepid 3-1 favorite in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies, rallied wide into the stretch and proved best of the others, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Willet. Better Lucky, La Verdad, Kipling’s Joy, Geeky Gorgeous, and Hot Stones rounded out the complete order of finish.
Artemis Agrotera paid $10.60.

“This filly has always been a special filly every day I’ve had her,” said Hushion. “I was more confused by the couple of times she didn’t run well, and it never surprises me when she shows up big. I left it to Rajiv, she broke out of there pretty good, he took it from there, and it worked out well. To win a Grade 1 at Saratoga, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Hushion said he would discuss with the Bromans whether to bring Artemis Agrotera back to Santa Anita for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup. She earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare sprint in the Ballerina, which was a Win and You're In race.