Amy’s Challenge won a spirited stretch-long battle with Mr. Jagermeister to win Saturday’s $80,000 Shakopee Juvenile S. to give the 2-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller her first stakes win (VIDEO).
After breaking her maiden by a gaudy 16 1/2-lengths in her debut on Aug. 6., Amy’s Challenge was favored as she faced the colts on Saturday. Flying out of the gate, she sped through the first quarter-mile in :21.95 seconds. On the turn, Mr. Jagermeister ranged up on her outside to take the lead at the top of the stretch.
Despite being passed and squeezed in at the rail, Amy’s Challenge fought back and retook the lead, winning by three-quarters of a length over Mr. Jagermeister, who was some 20 lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
The final time of 1:09.58 earned the winner a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. She is the only 2-year-old, male or female, to have a recorded a Beyer of more than 90 in 2017. She earned a 91 in her blowout debut
“She just flies,” jockey Austin Loveberry said. “This is an exceptional filly. She is so smooth. When she got headed she dug in and kept digging and digging and digging.”
Amy’s Challenge has earned $61,800 in her two wins for Novogratz Racing Stables.
Amy’s Challenge was bred in Kentucky by Sierra Farm and is Artie Schiller’s third 2-year-old stakes winner this year, tying him for the most by any active North American sire.
