SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was business as usual at trainer Chad Brown’s barn Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after his team celebrated not one but two Grade 1 victories Saturday, with Big Blue Kitten at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer Invitational and Real Solution, who won the Arlington Million via the disqualification of The Apache.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The first wave of European shippers checked in late Saturday evening for next Sunday’s Canadian International Day program at Woodbine.
[CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DAY: Get PPs, watch Sunday's full card live]
Traveling from England via Amsterdam were Joshua Tree, Wigmore Hall, and Dandino, for the Canadian International; Lay Time, who is nominated to both the International and the E.P Taylor; and Night Carnation, whose target is the Nearctic.
Stormy Lord and Cantonic, who are a combined 3 for 3 over the turf course at Parx Racing, could go head to head from gate to wire when they clash in Saturday’s $250,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup.
The 5-year-old Stormy Lord, who shipped in from Woodbine to upset last year’s President’s Cup at 9-1, figures to be a far shorter price when he defends his title in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. He is dropping in class and cutting back in distrance off a runner-up effort, beaten three-quarters of the length, in the Grade 2 Sky Classic at 1 1/4 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stormy Lord goes for his second straight triumph in the $150,000 Connaught Cup Stakes Sunday at Woodbine. The seven-furlong turf sprint drew 10 others, and seems fairly wide open.
Stormy Lord put together a lucrative 2011 campaign, during which he won 4 of 7 starts and around $400,000. Aside from the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, he won the Labeeb Stakes, the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, and the PTHA President’s Cup Stakes at Parx.
“He’s a very handy horse,” said trainer Ian Black. “He had a good season. He was in the right spots on the right day.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The turf season wound up here last weekend and, somewhat appropriately, two trainers who have enjoyed mastery on the medium saddled the winners of the two stakes races offered.
Stormy Lord, trained by Ian Black, was winning his fourth stakes race of the year and third of the Woodbine meeting in Sunday’s $116,800 Labeeb, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that was run on yielding turf.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stormy Lord, with three turf stakes wins under his belt this season, looms as the horse to beat here in Sunday’s $100,000 Labeeb.
The Labeeb, an overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up, is scheduled for one mile on turf and attracted a field of 11.
Stormy Lord, an Ontario-foaled 4-year-old gelding, won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup over seven furlongs of soft turf in his seasonal bow and later won the Ontario Jockey Club over the same distance of firm going.
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.”
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.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ian Black has been through a rough couple of weeks with injuries leading to the retirement of Rahy’s Attorney and to an extended leave of absence for Fifty Proof.
On Sunday, the Black barn will be looking for some solace when Stormy Lord runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Play the King.
The Play the King, a seven-furlong turf race, is the major local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 18.
