Emirates Park shuttler Artie Schiller (USA) sired his first stakes winner for 2014 when Blingo caused an upset in the G2 San Antonio Stakes (1800m) at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Blingo (5g Artie Schiller – Wassifa by Sure Blade) races for the owner-trainer team of Jerry Moss and John Sherriffs who guided the career of celebrated mare Zenyatta.  It was his third black-type victory following the 2012 La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita and 2013 I’m a Banker Stakes at Belmont.

Blingo started 16/1 in a race dominated by $5 million earner Game On Dude who was seeking an unprecedented third San Antonio success.  The odds-on favourite employed cut-throat tactics alongside Blueskiesnrainbows and Imperative and was a sitting shot when Blingo advanced with a strong bid turning for home.

“I was real happy with the hot pace,” winning jockey Aaron Gryder said.  “My horse settled and was travelling so well.  He went after the leaders and then showed courage in the stretch when Imperative ran the race of his life.  He got to me but never got by me.”

Blingo was bred in Kentucky and sold for $80,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale.  His dam Wassifa has also foaled fellow stakes-winner Hold to Ransom and the dam of G2 winner Prince Bishop and G3 winner Retrieve.

Artie Schiller (El Prado) sired 11 individual black-type winners in 2013.  He just missed a black-type double on Saturday when Sonny Inspired was beaten a nose in the LR Christopher Elser Memorial (1300m) in Philadelphia.

Emirates Park has catalogued 6 Artie Schillers among a total of 19 yearlings by him being offered at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale in March.