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The Artie Schiller draws a full field of quality turf milers

 

11/8/18

The Artie Schiller draws a full field of quality turf milers

By Matt Shifman

The $150,000 Artie Schiller, which is slated to be run at a mile on the turf, headlines the Saturday card at Aqueduct. Recent graded stakes winners Qurbaan (ML 3-1) and Blacktype (ML 9-2) have the best recent form in a full-field which drew 12 runners.

Qurbaan was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Mile but was not selected to run in the race. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had the Artie Schiller in mind as a back-up race for the Shadwell runner all along. Qurbaan is in fine form with two big performances this year. He won the Bernard Baruch (G2) at Saratoga in his 2018 debut and then was third in the Shadwell Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

“He’s been just great since he’s come to us,” McLaughlin said. “He’s doing very well and has been training forwardly off his race in the Shadwell. We didn’t get into the Breeders’ Cup, so we had this spot in mind and hopefully the weather cooperates.”

Christophe Clement trains the 7-year-old Blacktype. The French-bred has won 12 times in 36 starts and is approaching $1 million in career earnings. He comes into the Artie Schiller off two wins at Belmont Park, the most recent being a front running effort in the Knickerbocker (G2). Blacktype is a confirmed miler who likes the Aqueduct turf course.

“He’s been a very fun horse to have around,” Clement said. “He always tries and is coming in for this well off his victory in the Knickerbocker last out. Unfortunately, he’ll have to carry the most weight in the field, but he prefers some give in the ground which it looks like there’s a chance we’ll get, so hopefully things work out.”

Bricks and Mortar, who is trained by Chad Brown and has not run in 13 months, was named the 5-2 morning line favorite based on his very successful campaign as a 3-year-old. Last year he won National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga.

Qurbaan drew post-position 1 and will be ridden for the first time by Luis Saez, Bricks and Mortar picks up Javiar Castellano and will break from post 6, while regular jockey Joel Rosario will guide Blacktype from post five. The fourth running of the Artie Schiller is carded as race 8 with post-time scheduled for 3:47pm ET.

The Artie Schiller is one of the featured races in the New York Hot List picks for Saturday, so be sure to check out the analysis by clicking on the Today’s Picks tab at the homepage.

 

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