We Miss Artie rallies in the stretch to prevail in Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity

With a pair of Grade 1 winning 2-year-olds in as many days, Artie Schiller’s has taken over as 2013’s leading North American sire of juveniles.

After My Conquestadory’s brilliant victory in Friday’s Grade 1 Alcibiades S. at Keeneland, We Miss Artie took the $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity on Saturday, the colt counterpart to Friday’s race.

We Miss Artie came from ninth after six furlongs, making a big move on the turn to reach contention a t the top of the stretch. The dark bay colt covered the 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:46.91 to earn a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in four weeks at Santa Anita.

“Had a little bit of trouble into the first turn, had to steady him out of there, then I gave him a chance up the backstretch,” said winning rider John Velazquez. “Going to the second turn we saved a little bit of ground. Then when I pulled him out, he saw the light and that’s when he started running.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher the victory increased We Miss Artie’s bankroll to $307,000 with a record of 4-2-1-0.

We Miss Artie is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Athena’s Gift and is a graduate of the 2012 Keeneland September Sale, where he was bought by his owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey for $90,000.