Big Everest wins second consecutive Artie Schiller Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Different tactics, same result.

Big Everest, who won last year’s Artie Schiller Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion, came from off the pace to win Sunday’s $150,000 Artie Schiller by three-quarters of a length over Exact Estimate at Aqueduct. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Masen, the second- and third-place finishers both trained by Chad Brown.

Pioneering Spirit, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Jerry the Nipper, James Aloysius, Wicked Finn and St. Anthony. Bring Me a Check as well as all the main-track-only entrants scratched.

Christophe Clement, trainer of Big Everest, maintained that his horse doesn’t have to be on the lead and often found himself there due to lack of pace in the race.

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On Sunday, Manny Franco hustled Masen to the lead and maintained a one-length lead over Exact Estimate through a half-mile in 47.53 seconds.

Big Everest was tugging hard at Joel Rosario early, but Rosario was able to get him chilled while sitting third along the rail down the backside.

Turning into the lane, Masen started to get out bad, opening the rail for Big Everest and Rosario was able to guide him on through at the sixteenth pole.

“I thought we may go to the lead but there was speed outside and …I got no choice just follow for a little bit and hopefully he relaxed for me and he did,” Rosario said. “He was always a little strong, but he relaxed going to the backside. The horse on the lead came out and there was the opportunity go inside and it worked out.”

Big Everest, a Great Britain-bred son of The Gurkha owned by Dean Reeves, covered the mile in 1:34.45 and returned $13.80. He improved his record to 8 for 15, 4 for 4 over Aqueduct’s turf.

“Most of the races, if you look at the pace, he was never that fast on the lead,” Clement said. “If there’s no pace, he’s a perfect horse to dictate his own pace. Joel gave him a great ride.”

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