Big Everest looks to make it a three-peat in Artie Schiller

Big Everest will try to win the $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes for the third year in a row on Saturday at Aqueduct and should be the one to catch in the one-mile turf route.

Normally a front-runner, Big Everest came from slightly off the pace to win last year’s Artie Schiller, three months after ending up fourth in the Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth. The 6-year-old is coming off another fourth-place finish in the Oceanport, which contained two future stakes winners, including He’spuregold, who’s also in Saturday’s field.

Big Everest appears to have a big pace advantage on Saturday, with good speed rider Kendrick Carmouche aboard for the first time for trainer Christophe Clement.

Trained by Kelly Breen, He’spuregold parlayed a third-place finish in the Oceanport into a victory in the Sept. 2 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth. The consistent New Jersey-bred competed over yielding ground most recently in the Carey Memorial Handicap at Monmouth and wound up third after a stalking trip. Luis Rivera Jr. takes over on the six-time stakes winner.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Five others were entered, including Running Bee, Fort Washington, St Anthony, and main-track-only entrant Film Star.

Running Bee could go favored with Dylan Davis riding for trainer Chad Brown, as the duo is 7 for 15 when teaming together at the current meet.

Running Bee and Fort Washington dead-heated for the win in the Grade 3 Monmouth in June after a four-way driving finish. Following a sixth in the Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth, Running Bee took the Bernard Baruch Stakes at Saratoga. He’s coming off a troubled fourth behind Carl Spackler in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, from which unplaced Spirit of St Louis exited to take the restricted Mohawk Stakes.

Fort Washington encountered some trouble and was last early in the United Nations before finishing eighth. He went on to finish third in the Bernard Baruch and a pace-pressing fourth in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker. Eric Cancel inherits the mount from Carmouche on the Shug McGaughey-trained son of War Front.

St Anthony was steadied twice while lacking room en route to a fifth-place finish as the favorite last out in the Red Bank. The four-time stakes winner was previously victorious in the Aug. 16 Oceanport in his first outing since a wide eighth in last year’s Artie Schiller. Javier Castellano rides him for Neil Drysdale.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.