Artemis Agrotera Tops Field for $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap

Topping the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 4-5 is Artemis Agrotera for trainer Michael Hushion. The three-year-old filly took on older rivals for the first time last time out in the Ballerina (G1) and emerged victorious to earn the second Grade 1 win of her six-race career. Bred and owned by Chester and Mary Broman, the bay daughter of Roman Ruler will have Rajiv Maragh back aboard and the pair will break from the inside post.

Merry Meadow gets Johnny V in the irons

Second choice at morning line odds of 4-1 is Merry Meadow who comes out of the Mark Hennig barn. A four-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes, she has won two of her five starts this year including the Vagrancy (G3) at Belmont Park. She was last seen finishing third in the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga. With jockey Maragh electing to go with Artemis Agrotera, Merry Meadow picks up the services of John Velazquez and they will break from post position two.

New York-bred Willet taking on open company 

Also in the field is the New York-bred, Willet, at morning line odds of 5-1. A six-year-old daughter of Jump Start, Willet has won eight times with three of those victories coming at Belmont Park. After racing against restricted state-bred company in her two prior starts this year, she stepped up to open graded stakes competition and finished third in the Ballerina (G1) in her most recent start. She will have Dylan Davis in the irons for the first time and they will break from post  five.