Champion sprinter Artax died in Brazil Sunday as the result of colic,
according to published reports. The 17-year-old stallion had been standing at
Haras Santa Tereza do Bom Retiro for the past couple of years.
Campaigned by Paraneck Stable, Artax compiled a 25-7-9-3 record while
bankrolling $1,685,840. The dark bay was initially trained by Randy Bradshaw. A
nine-length maiden winner as a juvenile in 1997, he finished second to Real
Quiet in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity before setting out on the Kentucky Derby
trail.
Artax romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Santa Catalina, but had to fight
hard to fend off Real Quiet by a head in the Grade 2 San Felipe. Artax’s
distance limitations were exposed in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, where he was
a distant third to Indian Charlie and Real Quiet, and he tired badly to 13th in
the Kentucky Derby.
Runner-up in the Grade 1 Malibu in his final outing at three in 1998, Artax
was again well beaten when stretching back out to two turns in the remaining two
legs of the Strub series. He was then transferred to Louis Albertrani, who
confined him to sprints and crafted an Eclipse Award-winning campaign.
Artax’s early-season highlight was a track record-setting win in the Grade 1
Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. By blistering seven furlongs in 1:20, he eclipsed
the old mark of 1:20 1/5 established by Hall of Famer Dr. Fager, who lugged 139
pounds. Artax toted 114.
Artax ended his career with a three-race winning streak. After taking the
Grade 1 Vosburgh, he crushed the Grade 2 Forest Hills Handicap in a track-record
1:07 3/5, bettering Groovy’s standard of 1:07 4/5 for six furlongs at Belmont
Park. Artax made it three in a row in the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint,
where he equaled Mr. Prospector’s track mark of 1:07 4/5 at Gulfstream Park.
Although Artax placed in five other stakes that year, his most memorable loss
was a fifth in the Grade 3 Maryland Breeders’ Cup Handicap. The race turned
infamous when a besotted miscreant ran onto the track and tried to punch Artax,
who was forced to take evasive action.
At stud, Artax sired Grade 1 Prioress winner Friendly Michelle and
globetrotting millionaire Diabolical. Aside from major victories in the Grade 2
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, the Group 3 Mahab al Shimaal and the Maryland
Breeders’ Cup that had eluded his sire, Diabolical placed in such international
events as the Dubai Golden Shaheen, KrisFlyer International Sprint and Breeders’
Cup Turf Sprint.