Donk goes from turf to dirt again with Artemis Girl in Fifth Avenue

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In 2021, trainer David Donk transferred the 2-year-old Geno from the turf to the dirt and he upset the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series at odds of 8-1.

Saturday, Donk will try a similar feat when he transfers the 2-year-old filly Artemis Girl from the turf to the dirt for the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS, a race restricted to female progeny of New York-based stallions.

Artemis Girl is by Solomini, a multiple graded stakes-placed runner on dirt who stands at McMahon Thoroughbreds of Saratoga and who is the sire of five of the 12 entrants in this race. Artemis Girl is out of the Malibu Moon mare Dancing Onthemoon, who went 0 for 16 in her career but had three seconds on dirt.

Artemis Girl won her debut on turf at odds of 50-1 in a field of 12 at Aqueduct on Nov. 2. Donk wheeled her back 15 days later when she finished fourth of six in the Tepin Stakes.

Donk said that jockey Jose Gomez breezed Artemis Girl on dirt after she won on turf and told Donk, “If I hadn’t ridden her on turf I’d tell you she was a dirt horse,” Donk said. “I’ve always had it in my mind to try this.”

Gomez rides Artemis Girl from post 10.

In 2021, Bill Mott won this race with the maiden Yo Cuz, who had finished fifth on debut. Saturday, Mott sends out two maidens, Miss Lao and Big Wisdom.

Miss Lao, a daughter of Laoban, finished fourth in her debut, won by Dolomite, who came back to run third in the Grade 2 Demoiselle. The runner-up from that maiden race, Munny Grab, came back to win her next start.

Leana Willaford, the Belmont Park-based assistant to Mott, said Miss Lao “was a little green, but she certainly got something out of it. She’s improved since.”

Miss Lao breaks from the rail under Eric Cancel.

Big Wisdom is winless in four starts, but does seem to be getting incrementally better.

“She’ll put it together,” Willaford said. “She’s getting there.”

Junior Alvarado rides Big Wisdom from post 7.

My Shea D Lady won at first asking in open company at Gulfstream Park in July but has a third and two fourth-place finishes in New York-bred stakes for trainer Carlos David. Javier Castellano rides My Shea D Lady from post 2.

Soloshot, yet another by Solomini, won her first two starts, including the Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes. Most recently, she finished fifth after a bad break from the gate in the Key Cents Stakes here on Nov. 18.

Walk With Me was a debut winner for David Duggan, repelling a late challenge from Call Her Bluff in a six-furlong race.

E Stormy, Holder Close, Tour Jete, My Perfect Mistake, Elite Status, and Sun and Wind complete the field.