Artemis Agrotera Heads Gallant Bloom

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) winner Artemis Agrotera will face five rivals as she looks to continue her winning ways in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Belmont Park.

After a brilliant 6 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Ballerina Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course, Artemis Agrotera shortens back to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Gallant Bloom. She has not run that short a distance since breaking her maiden at six panels for trainer Mike Hushion in an 11 3/4-length romp at Saratoga last August prior to acing the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont in October.

The 3-year-old Roman Ruler   filly, bred in New York, gets regular rider Rajiv Maragh in the irons from the inside post while carrying 118 pounds.

Hushion also enters Barry Schwartz's minor stakes winner Bridgehampton, a 4-year-old Bernardini   filly who has shown good speed in three victories. She looks to recover after finishing fourth and last of all in a field made up of Better Lucky, Grace Hall, and My Miss Aurelia in the July 21 Shine Again Stakes at Saratoga, where she set the pace but faded after bumping with My Miss Aurelia in the seven-furlong event. Manuel Franco gets the mount from post 3; Bridgehampton is lightest-weighted in the field at 115.

One who ran well behind Artemis Agrotera last time out is Willet, racing for James Iselin, Charlotte Assoulin, and Eli Gindi. The 6-year-old Jump Start mare bobbled at the break and was fanned four wide in the Ballerina, but nevertheless finished willingly to get the show.

New York-bred Willet is the winner of four minor stakes, including the Union Avenue at Saratoga last year. She prepped for the Ballerina with a good closing allowance win at six furlongs on July 30 at the Spa. It was her second start off a layup that saw her return to the races in a runner-up finish July 3 to La Verdad in the six-furlong Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont.

Dylan Davis gets the mount on Willet from the 5 hole for trainer James Iselin; she carries 116.

La Verdad is also among this group and could notch a second graded stakes score for Lady Sheila Stables and trainer Linda Rice. Winner of the Distaff Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack back in April, La Verdad has won nine of 13 starts. She needs to improve off back-to-back fifths in the Ballerina and Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II), however, those losses snapping a streak in which she racked up those nine victories and finished second by a length in the Barbara Fritchie (gr. II) earlier in the year.

Jose Ortiz rides the 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Yes It's True   from the outside. La Verdad carries 118 as well.

Vagrancy Handicap (gr. III) winner Merry Meadow and allowance winner Classic Point complete the field.