Adam Coglianese
Owner William Schettine, trainer Lisa Lewis and jockey Alex Solis, who brought us Rosa Salvaje, winner of the open Shakespeare Caress at the Spa on Monday, struck again in Saratoga’s final race on Thursday with another New York-bred, debut runner Archer Hill, who scored an eye-catching victory going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
A bay colt by Big Brown, Archer Hill went into his debut sporting a steady string of published works at Woodbine on both the main track and training track, most recently on July 25, when he fired a :59 1/5 bullet going five furlongs over the Woodbine Polytrack.
Well-supported at the windows as the 5-2 favorite in the field of 10 New York-bred juveniles, Archer Hill settled in about five lengths off the early pace in eighth position, as Holy Endeavor (Noble Causeway) came through at the rail to grab the lead, where he was challenged by Everydoghashisday.
Going into the far turn, Solis gave the first cue to Archer Hill, who passed four horses with a strong sweeping move. Four wide at the top of the stretch, Archer Hill then picked off two more foes. Around the furlong marker he engaged Holy Endeavor and took over the lead before drawing off to a professional-looking 1 1/2-length victory. After one-half mile run in 48:68, the colt stopped the clock at 1:43.82 after the 1 1/6 miles on the firm Mellon turf course. [VIDEO]
Bred jointly by Philip Birsh & Big Brown Syndicate, Archer Hill was purchased by William Schettine at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred sale last year for $150,000. He is one of four starters – all of them New York-bred winners – out of La Femme Galante, a stakes-placed daughter of Grand Slam.
