Artie Schiller sets course record in Jamaica

As much as Artie Schiller stood out on paper, he was that much more imposing during the actual running of Sunday's $200,000 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.

Toying with his five rivals, Artie Schiller rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Jamaica while setting an inner-turf-course record. Under a vigorous hand ride from Richard Migliore, Artie Schiller covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.50, besting the previous mark of 1:45.69 set by Subordination in the 1997 Hill Prince Stakes.

Rousing Victory, the longest shot in the field at 30-1, rallied for second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Icy Atlantic.

Artie Schiller stalked Icy Atlantic from second through a half-mile run in 48.15 seconds, before making a bid for the lead around the far turn. In upper stretch, he left his four rivals and came home a convincing winner. Artie Schiller returned $2.60 as the 3-10 favorite and created a minus show pool of $41,021.

It was Artie Schiller's fifth win from seven starts this year and seventh from 12 for his career. Jimmy Jerkens trains Artie Schiller for Timber Bay Farm and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Walsh.

* Earlier on the card, Sugar Punch won her fifth consecutive race, taking over from pacesetting Cologny approaching the eighth pole and drawing clear to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $107,700 Schenectady Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares.

Edgar Prado rode Sugar Punch, a 3-year-old daughter of K.O. Punch owned by a group that includes New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. Sugar Punch, trained by Richard Dutrow, ran six furlongs in 1:09.46 and returned $5.30 as the favorite.