TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Grey Area

The Grey Stakes (G3) is a fitting title for a competition where the top three challengers are nearly indistinguishable based on opening line odds.

Set for this Saturday at Woodbine, the $150,000 affair boasts a leading trio of Piper’s Factor (3-1), Pipit (7-2), and Two Ghosts (4-1).

Coming into the 1 1/6-mile showdown with just two races under his belt, early favorite Piper’s Factor took home his first career victory on Sept. 10 in a Maiden Special Weight at Woodbine.

Pipit, on the other hand, is already a stakes winner through three career contests. On Oct. 8, the filly won the Victoria Stakes (Listed) also at Woodbine. She is yet to miss the podium going 1-2-0.

The most experienced contender, Two Ghosts, is 1-2-0 through five lifetime runs. Most recently, the gelding placed second in the Display Stakes on Oct. 15.

Dynamic Duo

What do you get when a multiple grade one-winning jockey teams up with a multiple graded stakes-winning horse? A major contender in this Sunday’s $175,000 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.

Emma-Jayne Wilson and Artie’s Storm enter the 11-horse affair hoping to avenge last year’s tenth place finish in the Autumn. Luckily, the experienced pair enters this year’s running in strong form.

Artie’s Storm, in particular, has performed admirably as of late, securing the Durham Cup Stakes (G3) his last time out. Over the gelding’s past three starts, two of which were graded stakes, he’s run to a 2-1-0 line.

A victory on Sunday would give Artie’s Storm his second career Grade 2 triumph.

Early Fireworks

The fireworks started early for the headliner event on the Breeders’ Cup schedule at Santa Anita.

Earlier this week it was announced that Arcangelo, the favorite for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, was scratched from the $6 million run due to a foot issue.

The electrifying ridgling’s absence will open the door for other competitors, namely Arabian Knight (3-1) and Ushba Tesoro (JPN) at 4-1.

What makes these two competitors so special is that they’re nothing alike. Arabian Knight, a 2-year-old colt, has raced just four times to a 3-0-1 record. In that time, however, the Bob Baffert trainee has generated over $1.2 million in earnings.

6-year-old Japanese superstar Ushba Tesoro has generated more than $9.5 million over 30 career races. This year alone, he’s earned $7.8 million. Overall, Ushba Tesoro owns a 10-1-5 lifetime record.

Canadian Content

Local favorite and reigning horse of the year Moira is the lone competitor representing Canada in this Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita.

The 2022 King’s Plate winner joins a field of 12 that consists of runners from different countries across Europe, South America, and Asia, led by 5-2 opening line favorite Inspiral (GB).

The deep group presents a difficult task for Moira, who despite her exceptional form coming in, enters at 12-1. Over her last five times out, all of which were graded affairs, the Kevin Attard trainee put together a 1-3-1 line, capped off by a Canadian Stakes (G2T) victory on Sept. 9.

She’ll look to add a legacy win to her already impressive resume this upcoming weekend.

California Comeback

Just because there aren’t any more Breeders’ Cup events Sunday doesn’t mean there’s not something to look forward to at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Going off as race 6, the $200,000 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) features top of the line star power within its modest six-horse field.

Leading contender Queen Goddess is a multiple graded stakes winner out of Kentucky. Through 13 career starts, the mare has amassed over $800,000 in earnings thanks to a 6-2-2 record. To date, her most impressive win remains the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) on Oct. 16, 2021, at Keeneland.

Sunday’s contest will mark her first chance at redemption, following a third-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the Gamely Stakes (G1T), also contested at Santa Anita.