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Canadian Champion Gretzky The Great Headlines Sunday’s Toronto Cup

The $125,000 Toronto Cup and the $100,000 Belle Mahone co-headline Sunday's 11-race card at Woodbine.

Nine 3-year-olds, a group that includes Artie's Storm, Gretzky the Great and Riptide Rock, will travel one mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the Toronto Cup.

Owned and trained by Paul Buttigieg, Artie's Storm will chase his first added-money score in his third stakes appearance.

A son of We Miss Artie-Tiz Stormy Now, Artie's Storm heads into the Toronto Cup off a third-place effort in the Greenwood Stakes, just a head back of winner Gretzky the Great, who he'll meet again on Sunday.

Artie's Storm rallied stoutly in the Greenwood, contested at seven furlongs over the E.P. Taylor on August 14.

David Moran, who has been aboard for all five of the dark bay's starts, once again gets the call.

“He's a lovely horse,” said the multiple stakes winning jockey. “He loves the turf, but I don't think the surface matters at all with him. He settles lovely in every race and he always tries. The distance for this race won't be an issue for him because he's very relaxed in the race and he loves the turf. He's just a nice horse.”

Moran handed out top marks to the gelding for the determined Greenwood showing.

“He just got beat. He just missed second by a head bob, where he was in front just before and just after the wire. It was hard-luck not to be second to Gretzky the Great last time.”

Artie's Storm debuted last October at the Toronto oval, rallying to finish third, a neck away from taking top spot in the 5 ½-furlong Tapeta race.

Bred by Sunrise Farm, Artie's Storm broke his maiden next time out in his three-year-old debut in a main track race over seven panels on the main track.

After a runner-up result in the Queenston Stakes, he was back in the winner's circle, recording a half-length score in a 1 1/16-mile turf race on July 24.

“When I came back after that first race, I said, 'Paul, you've got a really nice horse here,'” recalled Moran. “I told my agent all winter not to miss that horse. He's just improved every race. He's training really well coming into this race. He's a lovely horse to be around and has a great attitude.”

Multiple stakes winner and Canada's champion 2-year-old male Gretzky the Great goes after his fifth career win his ninth start. Bred by Anderson Farms Ontario, the son of Nyquist is trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Riptide Rock, who finished a hard-charging second to Safe Conduct in the Queen's Plate on August 22, will return to the turf for the first time since his career bow last October, when he was a 2 ½-length winner in a six-furlong race on the E.P. Taylor. The Stronach homebred is trained by hall of famer Sid Attard.

Also on Sunday, seven starters will go postward in the Belle Mahone Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile main track event for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward. Trainer Mark Casse sends out the trio of Art of Almost, Crystal Glacier and Skygaze.

The Woodbine Turf Endurance Series continues with a 1 ½-mile Inner Turf race. Mambointheforest, at 79-1, took the first leg, at 1 3/8-miles on the Inner, for trainer Ron Sadler and owner Phillip Lanning. The series concludes with a 1 ¾-mile marathon on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 3.

The Toronto Cup is scheduled as the eighth race on Sunday's 1:10 p.m. program. The Duchess is slated as race nine.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com.

$125,000 TORONTO CUP STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Riptide Rock – Justin Stein – Sid Attard

2 – Artie's Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg

3 – War Bomber (IRE) – Shaun Bridgmohan – Norm McKnight

4 – Derzkii – Jason Hoyte – Carlos Grant

5 – My Sea Cottage (IRE) (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

6 – Lenny K – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard

7 – Azzurro – Eswan Flores – John Mattine

8 – Barnegat Light – Pablo Morales – Timothy Hamm

9 – Gretzky the Great – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

$100,000 BELLE MAHONE STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Crystal Glacier – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

2 – No Mo Lady (S) – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

3 – Saratoga Vision – Jeffrey Alderson – Alexander Patykewich

4 – Skygaze – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Art of Almost – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

6 – Fate Factor – Rafael Hernandez – Chris Block

7 – Antigone – Daisuke Fukumoto – Zeljko Krcmar

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Ireland’s Miss Amulet Back In Kentucky For Saturday’s Franklin-Simpson

While everyone has to ship to Kentucky Downs, Miss Amulet had the longest journey. The distinctive roan filly came from Ireland through Paris to Chicago to run in the G2 Franklin-Simpson on Saturday's program that features five graded stakes.

Miss Amulet returns to Kentucky, where she was third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in November, to face a field of males in the 6 ½-furlong test for 3-year-olds. Last year, the Irish-bred daughter of Sir Prancelot trained by Ken Condon brought a growing reputation with her to the U.S. This time, she is looking to bounce back from a pair of disappointing performances in Europe. Julien Leparoux, who was up for the Breeders' Cup, has the mount from post 5 in the full field of 12.

Mark Bourke, a member of Condon's staff, brought Miss Amulet back to the commonwealth this week.

“She's a rags-to-riches filly,” Bourke said. “She did very well as a 2-year-old. She won the Lowther (the G2 six-furlong Sky Bet Lowther at York) was second and third in two other Group 1 races, including the third here in the Breeders' Cup in November.”

The big performances in the graded stakes made her a valuable racing and breeding prospect and she was purchased by Coolmore partner Michael Tabor in late summer 2020. She runs in the name of Tabor's wife. Doreen and has stayed with Condon, who has had her throughout her career.

This year, Miss Amulet has not been as effective. She was 13th of 14 in the G1 one-mile Irish 1,000 Guineas over heavy ground on May 23. A planned run in the G1 Commonwealth Cup on June 18 at Royal Ascot was scuttled by heavy rain. In her most recent start, she was well back in the G1 July Cup on July 10 at Newmarket.

In an interview with The Racing Post, Condon said: “She hasn't been at her best in her couple of runs this season, but it'll be interesting to see how she gets on because she's in great form and has been doing well of late. She's only run twice and there were certainly mitigating circumstances on her first start of 2021 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.”

Condon also said: “I'd imagine she's going to be covered by an Ashford stallion in the spring, but if she showed up well over there you'd think she could end up running again over there. There are opportunities for a filly like her in the States.”

Miss Amulet was purchased as a weanling at auction for $1,134 and purchased as a yearling by Colm Griffin for $9,259. The Tabor group acquired her in a private sale after the Lowther victory. She was beaten a half-length in the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park at Newmarket before going on to the Breeders' Cup.

Bourke has twice had Miss Amulet out on the Kentucky Downs track, which resembles European courses and is unlike any other in North America. She is scheduled for another visit Friday morning.

“It rides lovely,” he said. “It's a rare opportunity that you can do this here in America, a turf-only course. They've done a great job here. They've been very welcoming and helpful. Hopefully we'll have a little bit of luck.”

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No Safe Conduct, But Eight Sophomores Entered For Second Leg Of Canadian Triple Crown

A competitive field of eight horses will take part in the 86th running of the Prince of Wales Stakes, the 2nd jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown (CTC).

Six of those contenders are coming off varied performances in the Queen's Plate. The 2021 Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct will by-pass the Prince of Wales, but H C Holiday who placed third in the Plate will be looking to improve on his performance going 1 3/16-miles over the border oval's dirt course on Tuesday, September 14.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the dark bay colt is the son of Ami's Holiday. A graded stakes winner, Ami's Holiday was a runner-up in the 2014 Queen's Plate and finished third in the 2014 Prince of Wales Stakes. He went onto capture the third jewel of the CTC, the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine. His leading progeny, H C Holiday put in his final work over the Fort's dirt course earlier this week. His conditioner is pleased with his training heading into next week's race.

“He's trained really well. He came out of the race (Queen's Plate) in great shape. I thought he looked really good on the dirt training track at Woodbine. We brought him on Tuesday (to the Fort) as well and he went (1:01:20) by himself and seemed to be striding out really nice. He looked pretty smooth going over Fort Erie's course. Obviously if he runs back to that kind of race like last time in the Plate, he will be tough to beat.”

Owned by Ivan Dalos, H C Holiday will be ridden by Luis Contreras. Contreras has piloted several horses to victory in the Prince of Wales, including Pender Harbour (2011), Amis Gizmo (2016), and Cool Catomine (2017).

Attard will also saddle Harlan Estate (seventh in the Plate) and Haddassah (eighth in the Plate). Both horses have worked well heading into next week's race. Attard was impressed with Harlan Estate's work over the dirt earlier this week at the Fort.

“I was most surprised with him. He worked really well. He hasn't been that great of a work horse, so he looked pretty comfortable. He went 59 and change. I'm kind of pumped about his chances. In my mind after watching him work I think his chances have increased. He came out of the work in good shape as well and he's a horse that kind of plods along. He will need a good trip and he can't afford to get stopped midway,” said Attard.

Meanwhile fifth-placed Plate finisher, Keep Grinding will continue the grind heading into the second jewel of the CTC. Trained by Tino Attard for Kevin's son, Joshua Attard, the bay colt posted his final work at the Fort, in company with Harlan Estate going (:59:40) over the dirt.

Avoman, winner of the 2021 Plate Trial Stakes and the 2020 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine is looking to step up his game after a sixth-place finish in the Plate. The bay gelding will be sent out by conditioner, Donald MacRae and ridden by Antonio Gallardo.

The lone filly taking on the boys this year will by Mark Casse's trainee, Curlin's Catch. The daughter of Curlin is coming off a fifth-placed finished in the Woodbine Oaks. She will be guided by veteran rider, Patrick Husbands. Back in 2018, Husbands clinched the Queen's Plate and the Prince of Wales with a filly named Wonder Gadot, trained by Mark Casse as well.

Looking to make waves in the Prince of Wales is Gail Cox's trainee, Tidal Forces. Owned by Sam-Son farm, the son of Malibu Moon finished ninth in the Plate. Woodbine-based jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson retains the mount and will pilot the bay colt around the border oval.

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Ready At Dawn, conditioned by Daryl Ezra for Double Blooded Stables, is the Fort-Erie based trainee. The son of More Than Ready will be the race longshot at 30-1. The bay gelding won his last start at the Fort on August 9 going seven furlongs over the turf course. The Prince of Wales Stakes, contested over the turf course, going 1 3/16-miles (nine and a half furlongs) will require the bay gelding to stretch out in distance over a different surface. His conditioner is tapping into the family lineage in order to capture the stakes race.

“I'm relying on his pedigree. His great grandmother Dance Smartly won the Canadian Triple Crown including the mile and a half Breeders' Stakes and his grandmother Dancethruthedawn won a multitude of stakes – the Oaks, the Queen's Plate. The pedigree says distance so I'm going to rely on that to get us through it.”

Despite being the longshot, Ezra feels very confident about Ready At Dawn's chances.

“I've done every job imaginable back here (at Fort Erie Race Track), from charting, announcing, and training. I've seen a lot of races. We are 30-1 in the morning line, but we are as good as anything in there.”

The $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes is the middle jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, for three-year-olds foaled in Canada, running 1 3/16-miles over the border oval's dirt surface. First race post time on Tuesday, September 14 is 1 p.m., with the Prince of Wales race scheduled for approximately 5:35 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fort Erie Race Track is open to a limited number of spectators. Those watching from home can tune into the Canadian Triple Crown Broadcast beginning at 5:00 p.m. on TSN Channels 1 and 3, sponsored by OLG.

For more information, please visit forterieracing.com

$400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown

POST – Horse – Jockey – Trainer – (morning line odds)

Avoman –Antonio Gallardo – Donald MacRae – (7-2)
Tidal Forces – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox – (15-1)
Curlin's Catch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse – (9-2)
Haddassah – Gary Boulanger – Kevin Attard – (12-1)
H C Holiday – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard – (5-2)
Ready At Dawn – MarkLee Buchanan – Daryl Ezra – (30-1)
Harlan Estate – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard – (6-1)
Keep Grinding – Rafael Hernandez – Tino Attard – (3-1)

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Love The Nest Impressive On Minnesota Festival Of Champions Night

Love the Nest, a 2-year-old son of Blame trained by Joel Berndt and owned by Robert Lothenbach, powered to an impressive 7 1/4 length victory in Wednesday's Northern Lights Futurity, one of six $100,000 statebred Thoroughbred stakes on Minnesota Festival of Champions Night at Canterbury Park.

Love the Nest broke quickly from the gate under Ry Eikleberry and battled between horses through a fast 21.66 second first quarter mile. The prohibitive favorite took control at the quarter pole and discouraged Doctor Oscar, second in the wagering at 5 to 2, who moved in from off the pace. The well-regarded colt pulled away in a final time of 1:10.27 for six furlongs.

“When he broke so clean I was very confident,” Berndt said, “and then turning for home I saw Oscar on the outside and I thought it's a horse race. Very happy he kept on and it looks like he can go a little further.”

Love the Nest paid $3.20 to win.

“He'll be a nice 3-year old,” Berndt said, not yet willing to commit to another race this year.

Eikleberry also rode Drop of Golden Sun to a win in the $100,000 Crocrock Sprint Championship, this time coming from five lengths back. He passed pacesetter Mr. Jagermeister in deep stretch to win by 3/4 length. Drop of Golden Sun is owned and trained by Tony Rengstorf. He paid $11.00 to win.

Mac Robertson added to his record 37 Festival victories by winning two more, both for owner John Mentz of Lakeville and both with Roimes Chirinos aboard. Cinco Star won the Blair's Cove Turf Championship by a length and a half and Clickbait the scratch-depleted three-horse Bella Notte Distaff Sprint by 9 3/4 lengths. Each was a prohibitive favorite with Clickbait paying $3.20 and Cinco Star $3.40.

The stakes portion of the 12-race card began in the fifth race with 2-year-old She's My Warrior racing gate to wire under Alonso Quinonez. She's My Warrior is trained by Tim Padilla who co-owns the filly with Pete Mattson of Prior Lake. Breaking from the rail, she jumped to the lead, was challenged by favorite Honey Bella, but quickly increased her advantage, in the end winning by 3 3/4 lengths.

“We weren't going to get trapped down there behind other horses,” Padilla said after the race.

Rush Hour Traffic provided a mild upset in the Princess Elaine Distaff Turf Championship. Unchallenged for the lead, the 4-year-old filly went gate to wire with Ruben Fuentes riding for trainer Gary Scherer and owner Sugarland Thoroughbreds LLC. She returned $12.60. Ready to Runaway, trained by Robertson, finished a nonthreatening second.

“She's a strong filly,” said Scherer who did not expect Rush Hour Traffic to go to the front. “Once she broke good [Fuentes] was committed to stay just stay where he was at. It worked out well.”

The card concluded with the $62,900 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity and the $60,550 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby. Jason Olmstead trained the winning favorites of both races. In the Futurity, Olmstead trainees finished first through fourth with Relentless Courage a length the best. Luis Valenzuela rode for owners Paul Luedemann and Tom Maher. In the Derby, Jess Rocket Man was simply too much, covering 400 yards in 19.870 second, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Western Reserve. Edwin Escobeo rode the winner for Lunderborg LLC.

Total handle was $1,884,984, the second largest total in the 28 renditions of the Festival of Champions.

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