Get to Know: Artemis Agrotera Primed for Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint

Get to Know: Artemis Agrotera Primed for Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint: A fellow writer compared a winner from this weekend to the legendary sprinter, Forego. That is quite a leap to compare a three-year-old filly to a Hall of Fame champion like Forego. This filly’s performance this weekend was nothing short of spectacular. The Gallant Bloom on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at Belmont Park was a small six-horse field, but quality was there. Artemis Agrotera was the horse to beat going into the race, but looked to be beaten at the head of the stretch when La Verdad was at least five or six lengths away from the next horse. Five horses were fanned out around the turn, and Artemis Agrotera was the widest of all. Closing with quick, fast strides, she got up to catch La Verdad in a narrow photo that favored Artemis Agrotera by a whisker. This is the very reason Artemis Agrotera is likely the best female sprinter in the country, and the star feature of the week!

Artemis Agrotera is quite an interesting filly. She is one of the best, if not the best, female sprinters on dirt today, yet her pedigree screams that she would want more distance. While she seems best between 6-7 furlongs, she has won a grade one at 8F. As a two-year-old, she did beat Sweet Reason and Stopchargingmaria in the G1 Frizzete. Both of those fillies have gone on to become very accomplished. Artemis Agrotera is by Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), out of the A.P. Indy mare, Indy Glory. Roman Ruler was a grade one winner in his own right, winning the William Hill Haskell over Sun King. He was not the most consistent, but was a decent racehorse, and seems to be becoming an accomplished stallion. He has sons like Ruler on Ice, General A Rod, and Rule, all very accomplished in their own right.

Indy Glory was a decent race mare in her racing career. While she was a solid allowance runner, winning around 1 1/16 miles most of the time, she did place in multiple graded stakes events, including the Black Eyed Susan (G1). She was also well traveled, running at eight tracks in four seasons at the track.

Artemis Agrotera has raced at three tracks in her two seasons at the track, and she is quickly improving. She has a 7-5(3)-0-0 race record. In the two starts she did not finish first, she was well off the board, with an 8th and a 5th. She did not bode well in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last year, and she was unable to hit the board in this year’s Acorn (G1), where Sweet Reason turned the tables on her old foe.

Artemis Agrotera has paid her way into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Santa Anita park) with her win in the G1 Ballerina at Saratoga this summer. With this latest win in the Gallant Bloom, Artemis should be primed to strike at the 7F distance on the first of two championship days. She has done everything right, but with her one poor performance at Santa Anita last year, one should be weary of her liking for the speedway the Santa Anita is likely to be. Artemis Agrotera is going to finish out this year with a possible spot in the running for Champion Female Sprint Horse. If she takes the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, or at least hits the board, she is likely for the championship.

Artemis Agrotera may also come back next year to become even more dominant. She is lightly raced for a three-year-old filly, and she should continue to mature. Her distaff line seemed to get better with age throughout the pedigree. Artemis Agrotera should be no different.