Graded stakes stalwart ARTIE’S STORM may have the edge on his rivals in the $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes for Ontario-sired horses at Woodbine on closing day, Sunday, December 11, of the big Canadian meeting. However, Paul Buttigieg’s 4-year-old by the late We Miss Artie will have to turn things around in a hurry, as he was last of ten in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes in his most recent start.
The Steady Growth will be Artie’s Storm first outing of 2022 that is not a graded stakes race. The last time he raced against Ontario sired horses? Last year’s Steady growth Stakes that he won over Full Extreme, who is also in this year’s field.
Artie’s Storm began the season with a smart victory in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes and many thought he would be one of the stars of the season. He did place second in three more graded stakes after his Eclipse victory. While his Autumn Stakes outing was drab, the dark bay did race four-wide all the way on a track that was favouring inside runners.
CANDY OVERLOAD is an interesting starter in the Steady Growth as the Reload 4-year-old tries 1 1/16 miles for only the second time. A confirmed off-the-pace sprinter, Candy Overload just won the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes on Nov. 27 for new owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Leonard Schleifer. That race was at 6 furlongs and he reeled in a fast early pace.
The Mark Casse trainee’s lone try at the route distance came in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes in July 2021 and he was last of six.
DUN DRUM is a trusty fellow who was fourth in the Steady Growth last season and he is in the midst of a super 2022. A winner twice this season, the Ian Black trainee is not the easiest one to figure out but he is a contender. Many eyes will also be on the improving colt GRANDSON, trained by John LeBlanc, Jr., who lost the house he shares with wife Maggie and son Douglas last month due to a fire. Grandson was fourth in the Overskate Stakes on turf but he is just as good on the Tapeta.
The Steady Growth is race 9 of 14 on Sunday.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
