Woodbine: Stormy Lord will target Labeeb

Ian Black's barn also was in action in suburban Philadelphia last weekend, and Stormy Lord, who was saddled by assistant trainer Jeff Bowen, was a 9-1 upsetter under Justin Stein in the $250,000 PTHA President’s Cup at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

“I was delighted,” said Black. “He was able to sit off them. I was surprised he could do that, off that slow pace.”

Stormy Lord, 4-year-old gelding, was recording his third stakes win of the season, with his earlier successes coming here over seven furlongs of turf in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup and in the Ontario Jockey Club for Ontario foals.

The Labeeb, an overnight stakes scheduled for one mile of turf here Oct. 30, is Stormy Lord’s next target.

Gypsy Ring tunes up for Overskate

Gypsy Ring worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 here Tuesday with Stein aboard in preparation for next Wednesday’s Overskate, a seven-furlong stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward.

“He went well, and the jockey said he never had to ask him,” said Paul Buttigieg, who is the owner, trainer, and breeder of the 5-year-old Gypsy Ring.

Gypsy Ring is coming off a fourth-place finish, just a half-length behind the winner, in the Grade 2 Play the King over seven furlongs of turf here Aug. 28.

Buttigieg nominated Gypsy Ring to the Woodbine Mile but elected to await the Overskate.
Gypsy Ring started in three restricted main-track stakes here last year, finishing second on each occasion while beaten a grand total of 1 1/2 lengths.

Officeinthevalley will await Labeeb

Buttigieg also had been considering Officeinthevalley for the Overskate but has decided to point that 4-year-old gelding to the Labeeb.
“He’s better on the grass,” said Buttigieg. “I’ll freshen him up a bit.”

Officeinthevalley won the Vice Regent, a one-mile turf race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds, here last September but then finished ninth in the Overskate.