Macagone, son of Artie Schiller, upsets sire's namesake stakes at 34-1; Triple Pick 6 carryover of $101K on tap for Sunday

by NYRA Press Office

Trinity Farm's homebred Macagone pulled off a stunning, 34-1 upset in Saturday's co-featured race, the second running of the $150,000 Artie Schiller for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf, named for the 5-year-old New York-bred's multiple graded stakes-winning sire, on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Under Kendrick Carmouche, Macagone settled in fourth early, as Heart to Heart led the field of 10 through an opening quarter-mile in 23.73 seconds and the half in 47.95. As the field turned form home, Macagone launched a six-wide rally into the stretch, reeling in the pacesetter and holding on for a three-quarter-length victory over Blacktype. The winner, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, completed the mile in 1:36.66.

"I had a perfect trip," said Carmouche, who picked up the mount from Chris DeCarlo, who was unseated in a race earlier on the card. "There were two speed horses that just happened to be on the lead and my horse had tactical speed but I wanted to sit on my horse and relax. I fell into the right spot, got a real run and angled out at the top of the lane and he excelled from there and held on. I'd like to thank Leana [Willaford] and the whole crew for putting me on the horse. I'm sorry that Chris [DeCarlo] couldn't ride the horse. That's a tough deal but he ran perfect."

Picking up his seventh win from 23 career starts, Macagone returned $70 for a $2 win wager.

Blacktype, Night Prowler, Night Prowler, Heart to Heart, Kharafa, Vision Perfect, Jay Gatsby, Iron Power, King Kreesa, and Long On Value completed the order of finish. Phlash Phelps was scratched, as was the also-eligible Tapitation and main-track-only entrants Tommy Macho and Weekend Hideaway.

Macagone's victory ensured that the Pick 6 would go unsolved for the third straight day, ultimately leading to a $101,393 carryover into Sunday's live racing program.

In addition to Macagone in Race 8, Saturday's sequence included victories by Coleman Rocky (Race 4; No. 1, $42), Gold for the King (Race 5; No. 9, $5.40), Azaelia (Race 6; No. 1, $6.90), Skyler's Scramjet (Race 7; No. 3, $40.60) and was capped off by Dad'z Laugh (Race 9; No. 3, $4.20).

A consolation prize of $194 was awarded to bettors with four of six winners.

Sunday's Pick 6 will begin with Race 4, which has a scheduled post time of 1:47 p.m ET, and encompasses the $100,000 Key Cents for 2-year-old New York-bred fillies at six furlongs, carded as Race 6, and the $125,000 NYSS Thunder Rumble for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, going off as Race 8.

First post is at 12:20 p.m. Gates at Aqueduct and Belmont Café open at 11 a.m.

Wagering on the Pick 6 is available through NYRA Bets, on-track, and Belmont Café, as well as simulcast facilities across the country.

Three races prior in the $100,000 Notebook for New York-bred juveniles, 4-5 post time favorite Gold for the King outdueled a very game Sal the Turtle to pick up his second career stakes win.

Sporting blinkers for the first time and breaking from post position 9 with Jose Ortiz aboard, Gold for the King stalked Tribecca and Sal the Turtle from four wide as the front running pair set fractions of 22.46 for the opening quarter-mile with a half going in 45.73.

As the field left the far turn, Gold for the King moved from three-wide at the quarter-pole to challenge Sal the Turtle in the upper stretch. Locked in a battle to the wire, Gold for the King drew away in the final sixteenth of a mile to secure the victory by 1 ¼ lengths.

He completed the six-furlong distance in a final time of 1:10.70

Returning $5.40 for a $2 win wager, the son of Posse boosted his career earnings to $280,568 while picking up his second career stakes win following his last win two starts ago in the New York Breeders Futurity at Finger Lakes on October 1 for owner Frances Paolangeli and trainer Charlton Baker.

"He broke good," said Baker. "Jose had to use him a little bit to get involved early as he sat back, but it was a great setup. I thought he still kind of played around with that horse [Sal the Turtle] in the stretch, but he's still a young horse. He's going to learn as he goes along. I think the blinkers made a difference. Not a big difference, but just enough."

Following Sal the Turtle in second was Bourbon Empire, Eddie's Gift, Fled, Hamptons Holiday, Caught a Heather and Tribecca completing the order of finish.

All News Stakes Advance Stakes Recap Headlines Notes Features

Macagone, son of Artie Schiller, upsets sire's namesake stakes at 34-1; Triple Pick 6 carryover of $101K on tap for Sunday

More Stakes Advance