Three-year-old Blingo became Artie Schiller’s newest stakes winner on April 20 with a half-length score in the $76,500 La Puente S. on the turf course at Santa Anita Park. With his maiden debut win last November over Hollywood Park lawn, the bay Kentucky bred is now 2-for-2 on the grass.
In a compact field of five going nine furlongs, Blingo tracked a couple lengths off the lead in third for most of the trip. Set down for the drive under Mike Smith, the 3-5 favorite forged to the front in the final sixteenth to stop the timer in 1:47.58.
“He was a tad slow at the start,” Smith said afterward. “Then they kept slowing it down in front of him. He’s getting better with each race. I think he’s going to be a good one.”
Blingo has now earned $102,900 for Jerry and Ann Moss. The couple bought Blingo for $80,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Third crop sire Artie Schiller is in the top 15 among his peers, with Grade 2 winner Mr. Commons his leading earner of 2012.
