Train to Artemus surges to Goldwood Stakes triumph
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A pre-race deluge did nothing to dampen the form of Train to Artemus, who won the $100,000 Goldwood Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park by 1 3/4 lengths.
The rain held off long enough for the Goldwood to be contested on turf, or Train to Artemus might have been scratched. Instead, she ran her record to 9-6-1-1 since M and W Stables and Kelly Breen claimed the mare for $35,000 last summer. Three of those wins have come in stakes races and, with the winner’s share of Saturday’s purse, Train to Artemus has earned about $285,000 since the claim, which Breen calls one of the best in his long career.
“This is one of the tops. We’ve had a couple of stakes winners in the past that we’ve claimed, but not one as repetitive as this filly,” he said. “She’s just very game. I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s a little bit of a barn favorite.”
Train to Artemus has tactical speed and ran herself into a second straight perfect trip in the Goldwood, which unfolded for the mare about identically to The Very One, which she won last month at Pimlico. Train to Artemus broke alertly and spotted up along the rail and just behind pacesetting Sweet Temperament. Turning for home, Lopez made one of his typically aggressive moves, bulling his way off the rail to push fading pacepresser Glitter Up out of the way and take aim on the leader. A willing partner, Train to Artemus burst past Sweet Temperament and had plenty left to hold clear Can’t Buy Love, who rallied for second. Longshot New Jersey-bred Roselba ran late for third as Train to Artemus clocked 1:03.58 for 5 1/2 furlongs over a course still rated firm.
Train to Artemus, who paid $4 as the strong favorite, is by Tapizar out of Pay Day Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy – and a steady payday she has been since the crafty claim 10 months ago.
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