Maker’s Mark Mile

Artie Schiller returned a winner on Friday (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) Timber Bay Farm, William Entenmann and Mrs. Thomas J. Walsh’s ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) entered Friday’s $250,000 Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G2) at Keeneland off a 12th-place finish in the October 30 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), but that didn’t deter the betting public from making the bay colt the 3-2 favorite. Their support was justified as the James Jerkens trainee powered home clear 2 1/4-lengths under jockey Edgar Prado, returning $5, $3.80 and $2.80 while starting the $65.20 exacta, $280.60 trifecta and $1,587.40 superfecta (2-10-1-3). Good Reward (Storm Cat) was first out of the gate, but Trade Fair (GB) (Zafonic) got credit for the first quarter in :23 3/5 while running along the inside. The five-year-old couldn’t sustain his lead, though, as Gulch Approval (Gulch) recovered from a troubled start to move up four wide and take over through the half in :47 and six furlongs in 1:10 4/5. All the while, Artie Schiller and Prado were biding their time while racing between horses near the inside. As the field entered the stretch, the duo came out and started their run. By the time seven furlongs had been reached in 1:22 2/5, Artie Schiller had taken over the lead by a head and pulled away from that point to complete the seven-furlong, firm turf feature in 1:34.

“We just sat there nice and easy and when I pressed the pedal, he flew,”
Prado said. “I love riding horses with that much class.”

Gulch Approval easily held second over Good Reward, paying $8.60 and $4.60 as
the 13-1 seventh choice in the 10-horse field. The latter returned $4.20 at 5-1,
and Mr. Light (Arg) (Numerous) finished out the top four. Trade Fair, Cool
Conductor (Stravinsky), Salford City (Ire) (Desert Sun), Muqbil (Swain [Ire]),
Laura’s Lucky Boy (Theatrical [Ire]) and B. A. Way (Lasting Approval) completed
the order under the wire. America Alive (American Chance) and Old Forester
(Forestry) didn’t draw into the field.

Artie Schiller made a name for himself last season when taking the Woodlawn
S. and Hill Prince S. (G3) prior to finishing second in the Virginia Derby (G3)
to eventual turf champion Kitten’s Joy (El Prado [Ire]). He returned to easily
score in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame H. (G2) and Jamaica H. (G2)
before his Breeders’ Cup run, where he was steadied on both turns while racing
along the inside. The four-year-old now owns a mark of 14-8-2-1 with $710,853 in
lifetime earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Haras du Mezeray Sa, Artie Schiller sold for $67,000 to
his current connections through the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out
of Hidden Light (Majestic Light), who captured the 1986 Santa Anita Oaks (G1)
and Hollywood Oaks (G1), and counts as half-siblings an unnamed juvenile filly
by Fusaichi Pegasus and an unnamed yearling colt by With Approval.