The phone began ringing not long after ARTIE scored a 9 1/2 length win in a 6 1/2 furlong turf race September 4 at Woodbine. Trainer Martin Drexler fielded calls from people interested in making an offer on the tall, bay gelding by Artie Schiller who raced to his workouts and won big in that career debut. The 3-year-old, a Kentucky-bred for the Manitoba group of Ken Lee, Don and Gaye Bell and Dennis Mitchell, owners and breeders, broke slowly in the turf sprint but got a good position under jockey Kazushi Kimura along the rail before he charged to the lead and drew off under a number of taps with the crop. His time of 1:13.53 would be remarkably fast although that clocking, like many at Woodbine this year, is under some review due to the issues with the Gmax system.
No matter what his time was, the gelding’s Beyer Figure stands to be in the 85 range. He is the second foal to race from the mare Copenhagen Cowgirl (More Than Ready) with her first being winner Denmark.
There is not much chance Lee and company will sell their impressive gelding, one of the last bred by Lee’s late wife Sandy Lepard, but the offers have been substantial according to the Drexler team.