Artemis Agrotera Well-Placed in F&M Sprint

A winner of three straight races, Artemis Agrotera could nail down champion female sprinter honors if the New York-bred daughter of Roman Ruler   can extend that victory streak in the $1 million DraftKings Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 1, at Santa Anita Park.

A homebred for Chester and Mary Broman, 3-year-old Artemis Agrotera's win streak includes scores against older fillies and mares in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park and the Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. She also won last year's Frizette Stakes (gr. I) before finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

Artemis Agrotera drew post 5 in a 10-horse field and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Michael Hushion.

"I'm very happy," Hushion said of the post draw. "She'll load late and has a terrific post position. She's the kind of horse that will run from anywhere. Jose Ortiz knows her pretty well. She's doing great and we're hoping for a clean trip."

New York-breds are just 1-for-53 going into this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, with that win having come from London Bridge in last year's Marathon (gr. II), but they figure prominently in both sprint races. Palace figures prominently in the six-furlong XpressBet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

Back from a strong effort last year is Wesley Ward's Judy the Beauty, who finished second to Groupie Doll in the 2013 Filly & Mare Sprint. The 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper   will be making her first start since winning the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 17 at Del Mar. She drew post 7 with jockey Mike Smith.

Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) winner Midnight Lucky was pre-entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint but her connections opted not to enter after trainer Bob Baffert didn't see enough from the daughter of Midnight Lute   in an Oct. 24 workout at Santa Anita.

Melnyk Racing Stables enters a top Filly & Mare Sprint contender in homebred Leigh Court, who improved to two-for-two this season when she rallied from fifth and drew off to a three-length score in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 4 at Keeneland. She drew post 6 with jockey Gary Boulanger.



"It's a beautiful post. He (jockey Gary Boulanger) will be able to see how the race unfolds around him and go from there," said trainer Josie Carroll. "I am very happy with how we drew."

The TCA has been a key race for the Filly & Mare Sprint. In its seven editions, the Filly & Mare Sprint has been won five times by horses who started in the six-furlong sprint at Keeneland. TCA runner-up Southern Honey and third-place finisher Stonetastic also were pre-entered in this year's Filly & Mare Sprint.