Artie's Storm faces another tough task in Autumn

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s rare that a blacksmith gets credit for turning a stakes-caliber horse’s form around, but farrier John Staples was given a shout-out after Artie’s Storm’s upset score in the Grade 3 Durham Cup.

Artie’s Storm tries for a more lucrative stakes tally in Sunday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Autumn at Woodbine. As an Ontario-bred, the 5-year-old competes for an extra $35,000 in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Trained by Paul Buttigieg, Artie’s Storm has been among the leading older males at Woodbine in recent years. He had a sluggish start to his current campaign, however, ending a drought when he won a conditioned allowance/optional claimer on Sept. 9.

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In the Oct. 7 Durham Cup, Artie’s Storm came from fifth to mow down accomplished world traveler Algiers in deep stretch and prevail by a half-length while receiving his third straight 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Assistant trainer Rick Hayashi said after the Durham Cup that Artie’s Storm took some time to come around this year and has been wearing bar shoes.

“He had lots of problems early [this year] with his feet, and his blood was all out of whack,” Hayashi said. “It took a long time to get him where he is today. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to our blacksmith, John Staples. The horse had bruised feet and he came up with these protective shields for him. Since he’s had them on, he’s turned the corner.”

Tyson is the leading candidate for the 2023 Sovereign Award as champion older male on the main track. The handsome gray won the Grade 3 Dominion Day and Grade 2 Seagram Cup on the Tapeta here in July before experimenting on the dirt in New York.

When going off Lasix Sept. 2, Tyson finished third behind the future Breeders' Cup competitors Bright Future and Proxy in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. The son of Tapit wasn’t as sharp most recently when sixth after a wide trip in the Grade 2 Woodward at Aqueduct.

Tyson is entered in the upcoming Keeneland November sale as a racing or stallion prospect.

Turfway-based Wolfie’s Dynaghost was supplemented by trainer Jonathan Thomas. He has started here twice this year, finishing a chalky fifth behind Treason, Carrothers, and Tyson in the Grade 2 Eclipse in June. Most recently in the Durham Cup, Wolfie’s Dynaghost set an honest pace before weakening late to finish a lapped-on third.

The versatile War Bomber is the 125-pound co-highweight, along with Tyson.

War Bomber collared front-running Treason in the final strides to take the Grade 2 King Edward traveling a mile on the turf here Aug. 19. He subsequently ran fourth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and was a frustrated eighth most recently in the Grade 2 Nearctic, beaten just three-quarters of a length in that six-furlong turf sprint.

Completing the Autumn lineup are Luckman and Win for the Money.

Post time is 1:05 p.m.

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