Parx Racing: Stormy Lord rallies for upset in President’s Cup

Canadian invader Stormy Lord pulled a 9-1 upset Saturday when rallying from just off the pace to win the $250,000 President’s Cup at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.

Ridden by Justin Stein for trainer Ian Black, Stormy Lord edged clear late to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by 1 1/4 lengths over Citrus Kid, the 5-1 third choice. Lubash, a 54-1 shot, led most of the way when finishing a neck back in third, with Bim Bam finishing fourth.

Smart Bid, the even-money favorite in the field of 10 older horses, had no mishap when finishing eighth in his first time out of the money in eight 2011 starts for trainer Graham Motion. Violon Sacre, the 9-2 second choice, ran ninth.

Stormy Lord covered the 1 1/8 miles on yielding turf in 1:54.24.

Stormy Lord, a 4-year-old chestnut gelding by Stormy Atlantic, was bred in Ontario by his owner, Kinghaven Farms. The stakes victory was his third of the year, following two on the turf at his home track of Woodbine. He earned $150,000, bringing his career total to just less than $850,000 from 19 races.

With all the long prices, the $2 exacta (6-2) paid $163.40, the $1 trifecta (6-2-1) paid $986.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-2-1-9) paid $1,122.38.

Saturday was Pennsylvania Owners’ Appreciation Day at Parx, with purses inflated in a major way so as to reward owners loyal to the local program. Favorites dominated most of the card, with Stormy Lord being the longest shot to win through 11 of 12 races. The President’s Cup is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.