Artie's Storm cuts back in Greenwood Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Paul Buttigieg’s barn has been heating up at the Woodbine meet, thanks in large part to the gifted gelding Artie’s Storm.
Artie’s Storm will try to land his first stakes in Saturday’s $125,000 Greenwood, a seven-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds on the main course, over which he won his last race.
Following a winter layoff, Artie’s Storm graduated second time out in an open maiden special, collecting a whopping $73,920. He got a 79 Beyer Speed Figure in that seven-furlong sprint.
Artie’s Storm closed from off a slow pace for second behind Queen’s Plate prospect Tio Magico in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes for Canadian-breds on July 11. In his first turf start, he rallied outside from seventh for a half-length score in an Ontario-sired allowance route on July 24, earning his second straight 81 Beyer.
Buttigieg said he’s been high on Artie’s Storm from the time he went into training.
“He’s always done everything right,” Buttigieg said. “He never gave us one bit of trouble breaking him. He’s worked good. He’s class.”
Buttigieg said he believes the best might be yet to come from Artie’s Storm, a son of Plate Trial winner We Miss Artie, who was fourth as the favorite in the 2014 Queen’s Plate.
“I haven’t figured him out – how far he wants to go,” Buttigieg said. “I know he’ll go far, but I don’t know how far. I don’t think he’s developed 100 percent yet, either. He’s got some growing to do, and some filling out to do.”
David Moran will ride Artie’s Storm again.
Also entered in the seven-horse Greenwood are stakes winners Gretzky the Great and Red River Rebel.
Last year’s Grade 1 Summer victor Gretzky the Great was voted the 2020 Sovereign Award for Canadian champion male 2-year-old. He has been hampered by a quarter crack, which forced him to scratch from the Queenston, thereby missing a chance to make the Aug. 22 Queen’s Plate.
Gretzky the Great has worked twice in recent weeks for trainer Mark Casse. Kazushi Kimura has the mount for the colt’s first start since a fading fifth in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 27 at Turfway.
Red River Rebel won his maiden second time out at 2 in the restricted Frost King Stakes. His first start for trainer Kevin Attard came in the Queenston. He stalked in third and finished in that position while 2 1/4 lengths behind Artie’s Storm.
County Final was supplemented to the Greenwood by trainer Steve Asmussen. He has been working at Saratoga in preparation for his first outing since a front-running second in a Nov. 29 allowance at Churchill.
Rounding out the field are shippers Oh Say and Dyn O Mite, along with the improving Bode’s Tipsy.