Undefeated Artie Schiller colt takes $100K Del Mar Juvenile Turf

Bowies Hero entered Saturday’s Del Mar Juvenile Turf following a maiden win six weeks ago and came up with a huge effort to give the 2-year-old Artie Schiller colt a one-length win to run his record to an unblemished 2-for-2.

Making his first start for his new connections and breaking from post 11, Rafael Bejarano had no choice but to take Bowies Hero back off the pace. Bowies Hero was eighth after a half-mile in :46.95, but really picked up the pace in the middle of the turn and emerged in front shortly after entering the stretch. 

Bowies Hero was well off the rail as Big Score made a move up the inside, but had plenty left in the final sixteenth to finish the mile on the firm turf in 1:36.40.

“The race came up just the way I hoped. I loved my position,” said Bejarano. “On the turn, I swung him out and asked him and he responded. Really good run for him. I heard that other horse (Big Score, who finished second) coming after me, but my horse still had something left. I asked him for more and he gave it to me.” 

Added new trainer Phil D’Amato: “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Jeff and Kathleen Hebert and Mark Martinez for pulling the trigger and buying him. When I saw the video of this horse when he broke his maiden at Lone Star, I wanted this horse in the worst way and it all worked out. I thought there would be a lot of speed in the race and I told Raf to ride him like he was the best horse. He trains like an old horse and does everything right, so I had a lot of confidence. He had him nicely in mid pack and pulled the trigger at the right time. We’ll take him on to Santa Anita for the Zuma Beach.” 

Bowies Hero is one of Artie Schiller’s eight stakes winners this year. The WinStar stallion now has 33 black-type winners lifetime.