Artemus Citylimits invades for Greenwood Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The once-beaten gelding Artemus Citylimits returns to Woodbine on Saturday, when he figures to be the favorite in the $150,000 Greenwood Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint for Ontario-bred 3-year-olds.

Based at Keeneland with trainer Wesley Ward, Artemus Citylimits won his March 14 debut over Turfway’s Polytrack with an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. Ward then sent him north of the border for a seven-furlong allowance on the Tapeta here June 14. That race came up tough, and he did very well to finish third behind Lucky Curlin and Clayton, who both came back to run big next out.

Artemus Citylimits’s last race, June 28 at Churchill, was taken off the turf and run on a wet-fast track. He prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths with a 91 Beyer in that 5 1/2-furlong allowance.

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Artemus Citylimits is by the decent turf sire Temple City, who was Grade 1-placed on the grass. His dam, Dene Court, won the Alywow and Ontario Damsel stakes on the Woodbine grass in 2012.

Luis Contreras will ride Artemus Citylimits for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Trainer Robert Tiller captured last year’s Greenwood with champion Pink Lloyd when it was for 3-year-olds and up. He entered Last American Exit and Forester’s Turn, who was supplemented.

Last American Exit, by the successful turf sire Society’s Chairman, is coming off a gutsy maiden victory on the Tapeta in his third start July 19.

Forester’s Turn, who’s also experimenting on the grass, is by the versatile leading Ontario sire Old Forester. He won two allowance sprints on the Tapeta this year, most recently in open company with an 80 Beyer. Like Last American Exit, there’s not much turf breeding in his immediate family.

Barilko could make his presence known in his second start off the sidelines. After graduating at first asking at 2, he tried stakes company thrice on the grass, with his best result being a second to Old Chestnut in the five-furlong Ontario Racing Stakes.

The first 2-year-old stakes of the meet, the $100,000 My Dear for fillies, is the supporting feature on the good 11-race card.

My Dear Stakes

Joy’s Rocket could be favored in the My Dear, a 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, even though she lacks synthetic-track experience. Her only start came in the slop June 28 at Churchill, and the daughter of Anthony’s Cross scored by a nose in front-running style in the five-furlong maiden special.

Contreras has the call on Joy’s Rocket for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the My Dear with Juliet’s Spirit when he had a barn here in 2008.

Silent Mamba could be the main threat. She defeated Ontario-sired maidens going 4 1/2 furlongs by four lengths at first asking July 4.