Artie Schiller tops Fourstardave

Reigning Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire])

headlines a small but select field of five in Saratoga's $150,000 Fourstardave

H. (G2) on Sunday. Assigned the high weight of 122 pounds, the James Jerkens

charge will spot his rivals five to eight pounds in the 1 1/16-mile turf event

as he seeks his first win of 2006. Artie Schiller has run valiantly in defeat in

both of his outings this season, nailed on the line by Miesque's Approval (Miesque's

Son) in the Maker's Mark Mile (G2) at Keeneland and again overhauled late when a

close third to Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) in the 1 1/8-mile Dixie S. (G2) at

Pimlico. The five-year-old will try to restore his fortune at the Spa, where he

boasts a perfect two-for-two mark with victories in the 2004 National Museum of

Racing Hall of Fame H. (G2) and 2005 Bernard Baruch H. (G2). Garrett Gomez

returns to the saddle.

"He may pick it up another notch here," Jerkens said. "Some horses do that

when they get here. I never believed horses wait on other horses. With him, it

seems like he does."

Jerkens added that he gave Artie Schiller time to recover after his last

outing.

"After the Dixie, he didn't seem right," Jerkens explained. "He didn't look

the same. He lost some weight. We didn't know what was going on with him. So, we

stopped with him and let him come back up. We're relying on him extra heavy

Sunday."

The Angel Penna Jr.-trained REMARKABLE NEWS (Ven) (Chayim) and Godolphin's

ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani) both have serious upset potential. The lightly

raced Remarkable News capped a three-race winning streak with a game

photo-finish decision in the Connaught Cup S. (Can-G3) over this distance at

Woodbine, but the four-year-old chestnut suffered a troubled trip last time out

in the one-mile Poker H. (G3) at Belmont Park. When he finally saw daylight, the

eventual winner Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque) was long gone, yet Remarkable News

finished energetically for runner-up honors. Regular rider Javier Castellano

stays aboard.

"He's a good horse," Penna said. "He may not have the pedigree, but he has a

lot of heart. He'll do whatever you want him to do. We don't know if he can

handle this competition, but we have to try. If he doesn't do well here, we'll

map out something else for the rest of the year."

Ashkal Way, three for three in the U.S. for Saeed bin Suroor, is exiting a

course record-setting victory in the Elkwood S. at Monmouth Park, finishing the

grassy mile in a snappy 1:32 2/5. Mike Luzzi picks up the mount.

"He has been a surprise for us," said Rick Mettee, Godolphin's North American

racing manager. "The timing is right to prove himself. The question is if he has

the class to handle a horse like Artie Schiller. We know he can put in a good

effort. He deserves that chance."

Although DIAMOND GREEN (Fr) (Green Desert) has been a slightly frustrating

type who doesn't find the winner's circle very often, he still merits respect as

a veteran with considerable back class. A French Group 3 winner as a juvenile,

the Bobby Frankel trainee placed in such prestigious events as the French Two

Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1), St. James's Palace S. (Eng-G1) and Prix du Moulin

(Fr-G1) in 2004, but he hasn't returned to that level since. Kent Desormeaux,

who guided him to a third-place finish in the recent King Edward Breeders' Cup

S. (Can-G2), sticks with Diamond Green.

Nick Zito will send out NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway) for his first try

on the lawn since finishing fifth in his career debut. The chestnut colt has shown

flashes of ability on the main track, especially when second in last year's

Florida Derby (G1), but he's yet to fulfill his promise on the dirt. The surface

switch may prove a boon to this colt with his turf-oriented pedigree. Eibar Coa

takes the call.

Diamond Green will break from the rail with his 115-pound impost. To his

outside comes Remarkable News, 117; Noble Causeway, 114; Artie Schiller; and

Ashkal Way, 116.