David Wilmot's Stormy Lord returns to Parx Racing on Saturday looking to defend his title in the $250,000 PTHA President's Cup, a one mile and one-eighth turf test for three year-olds and up. The President's Cup is the track's premier race for males running long on the grass. The five year-old gelded son of Stormy Atlantic races for top Canadian trainer Ian Black and will have one of Canada's top jockeys, James McAleney in the saddle.
A four time winner in 2011, Stormy Lord became a millionaire in his last start, a close second in the G2 Sky Classic at his home track, Woodbine. While yet to win in 4 starts this year, he's been competing against some of Canada's top grass horses all year, making three of those starts in Grade 2 company. He came to Parx last year as a bit of an outsider in the President's Cup, heading post ward as a mild long shot at 9-1. Racing just off the pace, he rallied strongly to lead turning for home and edged away to a clear cut victory. A horse that almost always fires, he's been first or second in 15 of 26 lifetime starts and now sports earnings of $1,003,686.
Another Canadian invader will face the starter, Max Berketa & Pinnacle Racing's Kara's Orientation. The 5 year-old son of Orientate won last year's G2 Sky Classic at Woodbine in most memorable fashion. Going directly to the front, he opened a 17 length lead up the backstretch and then stayed on to win by two and three-quarter lengths. That race in August of 2011, however, is his last win. Failed starts in the G1 Woodbine Mile and G1 Canadian International ended his four year-old campaign and while in tough again this year, he's not reached the winners' circle in five starts in 2012. He'll again expect to show speed under local jockey Kendrick Carmouche, riding Saturday for trainer Steven Chircop.
With an expected strong pace, Dennis Manning's Roman Tiger should prove to be a factor. The 7 year-old gelded son of Tiger Ridge comes in from Monmouth as a multiple stakes winner this year. After finishing sixth behind multiple Grade 1 winner Little Mike in the Sunshine Millions Turf to start his season, he pulled off a 28-1 upset victory in the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay and quickly backed that up with an off-the-pace win in the $75,000 Turf Classic over the Tampa course. Since coming north for the summer season, he's faced tough company in the G2 Monmouth Cup and G3 Oceanport with little success. He looks to get back on track with Victor Santiago aboard.
Also worth mention is Raymar Stables' Freud's Honour. Two starts back he finished fourth just four lengths behind Turbo Compressor at 65-1 in the G1 United Nations at Monmouth Park.
