Artie's Storm moves on to Dominion Day following strong comeback victory
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Artie’s Storm defeated many of the leading older runners at Woodbine when taking the Grade 2 Eclipse in his season opener. The powerful gelding seeks his fourth win in a row in the Grade 3 Dominion Day on Friday at Woodbine.
The $150,000 event has a new distance of 1 1/8 miles. It was shortened from its long-time distance of 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/16 miles last year, when it was won by Mighty Heart.
Trained by Paul Buttigieg, Artie’s Storm won two 1 1/16-mile Ontario-sired stakes in the fall, the Lake Ontario and Steady Growth. Following a six-month layoff, he came from third on May 29 to win the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse over Frosted Over and Mighty Heart while putting up a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
Regular rider David Moran raved about Artie’s Storm’s current condition.
“He came out of the race really well,” Moran said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better effort. The trip, everything, it was just ideal. We went into the race thinking he would need the race and would improve from it. He’s had good time in between the races. He seems fresh. He’s bucking and playing and seems really happy right now.”
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Mighty Heart finished up the track in his April 23 comeback in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland. He set an honest pace in the Eclipse before fading to finish three lengths back in third. Owner-breeder Larry Cordes said the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year and 2020 Queen’s Plate victor could be retired to stud at year’s end.
“We’re leaving that decision for another couple of months, but I want to put him to stud at the end of the year,” Cordes said. “The mare situation is pretty difficult, but a few people have told me they’d like to breed to him. That’s encouraging.”
Justin Stein worked Mighty Heart five-eighths in 1:00.40 last Friday and will ride him for the first time since early in his 3-year-old campaign.
Trainer Mark Casse entered Frosted Over, Talbeyah, and Skywire.
Frosted Over was Canada’s champion male 3-year-old last year while winning the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and finishing second to stablemate Sir Winston in the Grade 3 Valedictory. When returning from a four-month break in the Eclipse, he tracked Mighty Heart throughout and took control in the stretch before losing by a length.
Irish-bred Talbeyah is taking on the boys off an eye-catching score in a second-level allowance/optional claimer in her first start on this side of the pond here May 21. Patrick Husbands chose her over Mighty Heart.
“She was very impressive,” Casse said. “She had trained exceptionally well. I would have been disappointed if she had gotten beat that day.”
Skywire, Canada’s champion older male in 2020, won a conditioned allowance off a nine-month break May 22. He was a slow-starting fifth in the 2021 Dominion Day.
Post time for the nine-race Canada Day card is 1:10 p.m.