Gutierrez notches first stakes win as Artislas takes Del Mar Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. - Two races into his career, the 2-year-old Artislas has a defined style. Watch out for him in the final furlong on turf.

On Sunday, Artislas rallied on the inside through the stretch to win the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile and give jockey Reylu Gutierrez his first stakes win at the famous Southern California track.

Gutierrez earned the win, giving Artislas a patient ride in the $104,000 Juvenile Turf. Fifth on the backstretch, Artislas was third entering the stretch and closed well to catch stretch leader Mischief River.

“It was professional for him to go through that small hole,” Gutierrez said.

Artislas ($17.20) held off a late threat from Sabertooth to win by a half-length, finishing in 1:36.53. A maiden, Sabertooth (7-1) closed from last in a field of 13 to finish a neck in front of 7-2 Scipio.

Artislas earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 68.

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The remaining order of finish was Mischief River, Show of Force, Ivan the Great, An Chorr Dubh, Snowdonia, Coach Chuck, Toppers At Seaside, Tiz Happy, Run for Kidder and Panuco.

An Chorr Dubh, a maiden race winner in her only previously start in Ireland in July, was the lone filly in the field and the 5-2 favorite. She closed on the inside behind Artislas, but was not a threat in the final furlong under jockey Flavien Prat.

“I was behind the winner and I thought I was in a good spot,” Prat said. “She was very even.”

Gutierrez rode Artislas to an attractive win at 13-1 in a maiden race at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 2 when the colt closed from fifth to take the lead in the final furlong. Artislas performed in the same style in a longer race on Sunday.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Artislas is owned by the partnership of Irving Ventures LLC, Michelle Arthur, William Meathe, and Jeanne Tumanjan. By Catalina Cruiser, Artislas has earned $105,000 in his two wins. He was purchased for $100,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March earlier this year.

In the minutes after the Juvenile Turf, Gutierrez said he planned to travel to Kentucky to ride this fall. Gutierrez said he will ride at Fair Grounds in the winter and intends to return to Del Mar for the track’s 2025 summer meeting.

It has been a memorable last two weekends for the 28-year-old Gutierrez, who was second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic aboard Full Serrano on Aug. 31.

“To win a Grade 3 and even be in the Pacific Classic with these Hall of Fame riders, I’m blessed to be here,” he said.

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