Artie’s Storm victorious in last year’s Eclipse under David Moran (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— Artie’s Storm will face 10 rivals in the Grade 2 $175,000 Eclipse Stakes Presented by Don Julio, Sunday at Woodbine.
A 1 1/16-mile main track event for 4-year-olds and upwards, the Eclipse has attracted a competitive field that includes multiple graded stakes placed Wolfie’s Dynaghost, graded stakes winners Rondure, and War Bomber (IRE), along with seven-time winner Carrothers.
Trained and owned by Paul Buttigieg, Artie’s Storm, a 5-year-old son of We Miss Artie-Tiz Stormy Now, made his seasonal debut in last year’s Eclipse, and went on to cross the wire a one-length winner at 7-1.
It’s the same scenario this time for the dark bay who went 1-3-1 from seven starts in 2022, the runner-up efforts coming in three Grade 3 events, the Dominion Day, Seagram Cup and Durham Cup.
“That would be nice, to get it done again,” said regular rider David Moran. “It’s a big field, a tough race with horses who have a race under their belt, but Artie is training well and working good. He’s in good shape coming into it. He won last year off the shelf, so hopefully he does the same again this time around.”
The gelding concluded the 2022 campaign with a third in the 1 1/16-mile Steady Growth Stakes on December 11.
Moran believes the lifetime earner of $455,995 (U.S.) is ready for his most recent challenge.
“He’s a lovely horse to ride and a lovely horse to be around. He’s been doing everything he’s supposed to do leading up to this. Hopefully, he’s good enough, but he seems to be checking the boxes in all the right places.”
Bred in Ontario by Sunrise Farm, Artie’s Storm debuted in October 2020 at the Toronto oval, rallying to finish third, a neck away from taking top spot in the 5 ½-furlong Tapeta race. He broke his maiden next time out, on June 20, in his three-year-old debut, over seven panels on the main track. After a runner-up result in the Queenston Stakes, he was back in the winner’s circle, notching a half-length score in a 1 1/16-mile turf race on July 24.
“Artie, he’s a very straightforward horse,” said Moran. “He’s a gentleman, even on race day. He’s so kind to be around and does everything you ask of him.”
ECLIPSE STAKES FIELD
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Avoman – Justin Stein – John Charalambous
2 – War Bomber (IRE) – Sahin Civaci – Norm McKnight
3 – Wolfie’s Dynaghost – John Velazquez – Jonathan Thomas
4 – Tyson – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll
5 – Artie’s Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg
6 – Bringer of Rain – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall
7 – Treason – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
8 – Conglomerate – Ryan Munger – Martin Drexler
9 – Luckman – Luis Contreras – Vito Armata
10 – Carrothers – Declan Carroll – Martin Drexler
11 – Rondure – Rafael Hernandez – Katerina Vassilieva
