Sky Flight got his second lifetime stakes win in Saturday’s $100,000 Artie Schiller S. at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old is the 15th stakes winner this year for his sire Sky Mesa, a group that includes graded winners Sky Treasure, Belle Hill and Ol’ Fashion Gal.
A perennial leading sire of 2-year-olds, Sky Mesa will stand the 2016 season at Three Chimneys for $20,000 live foal, stands and nurses.
The Artie Schiller, which was held for the first time, attracted a field of 10 going a mile over the yielding turf. Sky Flight, from post 1, tucked in the pocket along the rail until the top of the stretch, when Joel Rosario swung the bay colt three wide for clear running. Aztec Brave was strong on the lead, but Sky Flight dug in for his best and forged to the lead in the final strides, winning by a head in 1:37.69.
“I was very confident,” said Rosario despite the close finish. “He’s the kind of horse if he sees a horse in front he comes and gets it. Every time he saw (Aztec Brave) he just kept on coming, kept on coming. He didn’t want to get beat.”
Winner of the Tropical Park Derby last December, Sky Flight is now 5-0-2 in 11 starts. He has earned $243,940 for owner John Oxley, who purchased the Kentucky-bred for $80,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
