Train to Artemus Faces Rising Pupils in Pan Zareta

By Kevin Kilrpy —-

Train to Artemus Faces Rising Pupils in Pan Zareta

New Orleans, La (Nov. 23, 2023) – Train to Artemus is at the top of the class in Saturday’s $100,000 Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares drew a field of eleven, several with graded stakes running lines, but the recent Dixiana Farm acquisition exits a narrow defeat in the Franklin (G2), a length behind two 2023 Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint runners in Caravel and Tony Ann. That performance and more garnered the attention of morning line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto who deemed her the 3-1 favorite. Programmed as the eighth race of nine, post time for the Pan Zareta is 4:13 p.m. CT.

Dixiana Farm purchased Train to Artemus for $250,000 in November’s Keeneland Association Horses of Racing Age Sale. Previously in the hands of Kelly Breen, the 5-year-old mare has moved to John Ennis’ barn.

“She’s firmly the class of the race,” Ennis said. “She’s just a smashing filly. Physically, she looks like a colt. You’d love her to win a graded stake on the grass eventually–she definitely looks the part and trains the part.”

Train to Artemus’ class edge is hard to deny, but in terms of speed figures and form ratings, there are three entered in the Pan Zareta who stack up. Klein Racing’s Goin’ Good is a battle-tested, hard-trying mare who rarely doesn’t fire but recently has been camera shy with only one win in the past two years. The other two are 3-year-olds on the rise, as Horseshoe Racing’s Redefined and John Donaldson’s Carimba will look to run back to their recent top efforts against allowance ranks, which would prove dangerous against this field.

Train to Artemus’ rise to her current form and class level began in the fall of 2022 when Breen claimed her away from Saffie Joseph and began stepping her up. After running her successfully through allowance conditions, in February 2023 the daughter of Tapizar by the Kitten’s Joy mare Pay Day Kitten won her first stakes. Including the Franklin and the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs, Train to Artmeus has had a formful 5-year-old campaign, going 11-4-2-3, all at sprint distances.

“(Dixiana) were kind enough to send her to me,” Ennis said. “I went and looked at six or seven mares for them at the sale, and she was at the top of the list. I liked what I saw and they were happy that I agreed with what they saw in her as well. Ultimately, she’ll be bred, whether it’s next year or the year after. There’s plenty of miles left on the clock. She’ll tell us when she’s ready to go.”

In her last two starts in Kentucky, jockey Gerardo Corrales has taken the reins, and changed her running style, bringing her back early to unleash a late run. Corrales is named to ride her in the Pan Zareta where she will break from the second gate.

“Corrales suits her well,” Ennis said. “He knows her probably better than I do.”

Nominated for Turfway Park’s Holiday Inaugural on Dec. 2, there is a chance Train to Aretmus makes her first start for her new connections on Tapeta, not turf.

“I haven’t had her long,” Ennis said. “Maybe she needs another week galloping.”

Here’s the complete field for the $100,000 Pan Zareta from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line): Charlie T (CJ Mcmahon, Lee Thomas, 8-1); Train to Artemus (Corrales, Ennis, 3-1); Twice as Sweet (Jareth Loveberry, Brendan Walsh, 15-1); Still My Babe (Angel Suarez, Brendan Walsh, 20-1); Carimba (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Rey Hernandez, 7-2); Medalla Match (Deshawn Parker, Michael Biehler, 6-1); Kerry (Corey Lanerie, Joe Sharp, 15-1); Goin’ Good (James Graham, Brad Cox, 4-1); Redefined (Jamie Torres, Michelle Lovell, 8-1); Granato (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman, 20-1); Kela’s Turn (Jose Luis Rodriguez, Henry Guillory Jr., 50-1).

Four-day race weeks begin at Fair Grounds on Thursday, Nov. 30 with a regular post time of 12:45 p.m. CT. On Saturday, Dec. 2, the 25th Annual Claiming Crown comes to town, featuring eight stakes worth $1 million in purses.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 16 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 152nd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 111th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 17, 2023 through March 24, 2024. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.