Blingo shines in $100K I’m A Banker S.

Blingo became the eighth stakes winner of the year for Artie Schiller, with a determined victory in the $100,000 I’m A Banker S. at Belmont Park on Monday (VIDEO).

Ridden by Alex Solis, Blingo got squeezed at the start and was near the back of the pack for the first half of the 1 1/16-mile main track contest. Solis took his mount wide around foes on the turn, struck the front near the furlong grounds, then held off a late charge from Don Dulce to solidify the victory.

Blingo, who took the $76,000 La Puente at Santa Anita in 2012, picked up his third win in nine starts for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, and pushed his earnings to $184,158. He was purchased for $80,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

With just half of October in the books, Artie Schiller has been one of the nation’s best sires this month. In addition to Blingo, 2-year-old We Miss Artie won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 5, and just a day earlier the stellar 2-year-old filly My Conquestadory took the Grade 1 Alcibiades S., also at Keeneland. Both juveniles are headed to their respective Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita on the first weekend in November.