Artemis Agrotera catches La Verdad in Gallant Bloom

Still holding a commanding lead turning for home, La Verdad had four lengths

on her closest pursuer passing the eighth pole, but began showing fatigue after

her early exertion. Artemis Agrotera, who was forced five wide entering the

straight, closed stoutly to catch the long time leader and won in a photo. The

2-5 favorite completed 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15 2/5.

"In the stretch, my filly found a second wind and a third wind," Maragh said.

"Even if she had run second or third it would have been a good performance. It

shows what kind of filly she is to get up and win the race from where she was."

The 2-5 favorite, owned and bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman,

returned $2.60 to win.

La Verdad held second, a length in front of Willet. Merry Meadow was two

lengths farther back in fourth and was followed by Classic Point and

Bridgehampton.

This was the third graded stakes win for Artemis Agrotera, who scored Grade 1

victories in the Frizette last October and in the August 23 Ballerina by a

commanding 6 1/2 lengths. Now with two major wins against older fillies and

mares, the sophomore daughter of Roman Ruler will be among the favorites to

clinch an Eclipse Award as the nation's leading female sprinter at Santa Anita.

"Now we have six weeks (to the Breeders' Cup). We can take our time," trainer

Michael Hushion said. "She has this under her belt. Like Rajiv said, he learned

a lot about her today."

Artemis Agrotera has won five of seven starts for earnings of $943,800. Two

other victories, a maiden and an allowance, came against New York-breds. She's

been unplaced twice, finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at

Santa Anita last November and eighth in the Acorn at Belmont in her season debut

June 7.

Out of the stakes-winning and multiple Grade 2-placed A.P. Indy mare Indy

Glory, the New York-bred filly is a three-quarter sibling to a pair of

stakes-placed runners in Submerge and Time Squared. Indy Glory is a full sister

to Grade 1 winner Stephen Got Even and stakes queen Grand Merger.

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