Artie's Storm Back to Defend Eclipse Stakes Title

Artie's Storm  will face 10 rivals in the CA$175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) June 4 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 , along with seven-time winner Carrothers .

Trained and owned by Paul Buttigieg, Artie's Storm, a 5-year-old son of We Miss Artie 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 Dec. 11.

Moran believes the lifetime earner of $455,995 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 Oct. 2020 at the Toronto oval, rallying to finish third, a neck away from taking the top spot in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta race. He broke his maiden next time out, June 20, in his 3-year-old debut, over seven furlongs 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 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."

Also in the field is last-out winner of the 2022 Steady Growth Stakes Avoman.  Tyson  will be looking to make his two-win career three-for-three, Ontario Derby (G3)-placed Bringer of Rain  is a winner of two of 14 starts, Treason  will be making his 2023 debut, Conglomerate  will look to add a graded win to his resume, and Alpine Stable's Luckman  complete the 11-horse field.