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Ontario Mare Purchase Program Receives $200,000 Funding Boost

Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee has approved an additional $200,000 for its innovative Mare Purchase Program, bringing the total to $700,000.

An enthusiastic response by Ontario breeders to the program has nearly exhausted the initial $500,000 commitment.

The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale begins on January 11, and the committee wants to provide more Ontario breeders with the opportunity to maximize their investment at the sale.

“The main focus of this program is to give Ontario horsepeople the opportunity to buy a better mare, and higher quality stock,” said David Anderson, Breeder Representative on the Board of Ontario Racing and member of the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee. “There are people who still want to buy horses, and this will help them.”

Ontario residents who purchase an in-foal broodmare are eligible for a rebate of 50 percent of the purchase price to a maximum of $25,000 CAD.

In-foal mares must be purchased for a minimum purchase price of $10,000 USD, with no maximum, and be purchased at an Ontario Racing-recognized public auction. There is a maximum distribution of $75,000 CAD to any one individual, partnership, corporation or other ownership group.

“This is one of the best breeder programs in North America, and the world. We want more people to know about it, and participate in it,” said Anderson.

The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and purchasers must submit their application within 30 days of the purchase date. Breeders interested in accessing this funding can download the application form here.

Mares must meet the Mare Residency Program criteria. Copies of registration papers and a paid invoice from the recognized sale the in-foal mare was purchased from, are also required.

Breeders are also eligible for a $2,500 (CAD) incentive for all enrolled mares who are then bred to a registered Ontario Sire in 2022.

In addition to the Keeneland Sale, remaining Ontario Racing recognized public auctions are the OBS Winter Mixed Sale, and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.

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Speightster Relocated To Northern Dawn Stables In Ontario For 2022

Speightster, a leading second-crop sire, has been purchased by Jay and Christine Hayden's Saintsbury Farms to stand at Northern Dawn Stables Inc., Hillsburgh, Ontario, Canada, in a deal brokered by Chad Schumer of Schumer Bloodstock. He will stand for C$6,500.

The son of Speightstown ended 2021 as a top-five North American second-crop sire by prize money thanks to the earners of almost $4.3 million and within the top-two by winners (71).

In terms of Ontario, Speightster ranks as the second-leading sire overall and the leading stallion by number of winners.

“Canadian breeders will surely take note of the tremendous opportunity Speightster affords,” said Chad Schumer. “He is among the leading second crop sires, behind only Not This Time, Nyquist, Frosted and Runhappy, and ahead of Laoban, Upstart, Outwork, Protonico, Brody's Cause and Mshawish among others.

“He immediately steps in as the second-ranked stallion in Ontario with bigger things to come from such as stakes winners Aubrieta, Dreaming of Drew and Tough To Tame, second in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs and a Kentucky Derby contender.”

Speightster has already made an impact in Canada as the sire of Aubrieta, winner of the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine, and Dreaming Of Drew, winner of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine.

In two crops of racing age, he is also the sire of stakes winners Door Buster, Tantrum and That Kenney Kid as well as the Grade 3-placed Tough To Tame.

Speightster's racing career was one of brilliance, with a seven-length debut win at Keeneland, backed up with a 3 1/2-length victory over Grade 2 winner Joking in his next start in a Belmont Park allowance.

He remained undefeated in his third start when capturing the G3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park over Grade 1 winner Texas Red.

A son of leading sire Speightstown, Speightster's family is one of Canadian royalty; out of the Danzig mare Dance Swiftly, he is a grandson of Canadian champion Classy 'N Smart, also the dam of Grade 1 winner and leading sire Smart Strike as well as Canadian Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Dance Smartly (dam of Canadian champion Dancethruthedawn).

Chad Schumer added: “In terms of pedigree, all one can say is wow, by leading sire and sire of sires Speightstown and out of a Danzig half-sister to Smart Strike.”

Speightster will stand alongside Reload at Northern Dawn Stables Inc.

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Ontario Sire Heritage Series Concludes Friday At Woodbine

A pair of main track stakes, the Lake Ontario and Ashbridges Bay, share top billing on Friday's eight-race card at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile Tapeta events represent the finale of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, an eight-leg stakes series open to Ontario Sired 3-year-olds, contested at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks.

Ontario Racing and its Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee unveiled the series in March. With a total purse structure of $750,000, the Heritage Series showcases a total of four races – three opening legs and one final – for both three-year-old colts and three-year-old fillies who are sustained to the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

The $100,000 Lake Ontario, carded as race seven, has attracted a field of six colts & geldings, including Secret Reserve.

Trained by Mike Mattine for owners Carlo D'Amato and Stacey Van Camp, the son of Giant Gizmo is riding a three-race win streak heading into the Lake Ontario.

After a fifth to launch his 3-year-old campaign, Secret Reserve has made three straight trips to the winner's circle, including victories in the seven-furlong main track Elgin Stakes on August 29, and most recently, a two-length score in the Lake Superior Stakes, run at seven panels over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 22.

“Every one of the wins was different and special,” said Mattine. “He just keeps on improving. Last year as a baby, I could tell he was a good horse, when he started breezing. He's been very good this year. When he goes out and trains, he's all business.”

Friday's engagement marks the first time Secret Reserve, bred by Dr. Brian Van Arem, will test two turns.

The dark bay arrives at the Lake Ontario in good order.

“He's in good shape,” offered Mattine. “Obviously, we'll have to see if he can get the distance. It's going to be his toughest race so far. There are plenty of good horses in here. This is definitely his toughest test. Hopefully, he can perform just like he has in his last three starts.”

Secret Reserve debuted last September at Woodbine, recording a 2 ½-length win at 7-1 in the five-furlong Tapeta race.

The gelding has won his past three starts by a combined 10 lengths.

“He's a nice horse and it helps that he's Ontario-sired because he fits that program very well. He's got good numbers, that part we know, but we'll have to see how he handles two turns. It's a tougher field, too, so we'll hope he comes up with another big effort.”

Five fillies will face-off in the $100,000 Ashbridges Bay Stakes, slated as the first race.

Multiple stakes winner Lorena, trained and co-owned by Stuart Simon, goes after her fourth career added-money title.

A five-time winner from seven starts, the daughter of Souper Speedy won the Fury Stakes in July, the Algoma Stakes in August, and the Thunder Bay Stakes on October 22.

Red Equinox, winner of the Rondeau Bay Stakes on September 14 at Fort Erie, has three victories from seven races. The daughter of Signature Red is trained by Jamie Attard.

First post time for Friday's card is 4:45 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE LAKE ONTARIO

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Secret Reserve – Rafael Hernandez – Mike Mattine

2 – Artie's Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg

3 – Jelgo – Sahin Civaci – Matt Douglas

4 – Perfect Crime – Eswan Flores – Patrick Dixon

5 – Avoman – Patrick Husbands – Don MacRae

6 – Dragon's Brew – Kazushi Kimura – Robert Tiller

FIELD FOR THE ASHBRIDGES BAY

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Jolene Jolene – Justin Stein – Harold Ladouceur

2 – Jilli Marie – Steven Bahen – Katerina Vassilieva

3 – Lorena – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon

4 – Practical Gizmo – Jodeien Anderson – Marjorie Paterson

5 – Red Equinox – Luis Contreras – Jamie Attard

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Ontario Breeding Program Sees Growth In 2021

Over the last four weeks, The Jockey Club released its annual statistics for the North American breeding industry and Ontario showed positive gains across the board.

The number of Ontario-sired live foals reported to The Jockey Club through Oct. 4 was up 2.6 percent over last year, the number of stallions registered in the province increased by 12.5 percent and the number of mares reported bred through Oct. 18 was up 13.9 percent. Ontario was the only jurisdiction with positive gains in all three categories.

“Ontario, in terms of growth on the breeding side, is the number one jurisdiction in North America,” said David Anderson, Breeder Representative on the board of Ontario Racing and member of the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee. “I just got back from the fall sales and quite honestly that's all everyone wants to talk about, are our programs. I think they are innovative and they are forward thinking, and we're going to bolster our numbers and bolster our quality going forward.”

Among the programs drawing interest from breeders and owners are the 2021-22 Mare Recruitment (MRP) and Purchase Programs (MPP), and the new for 2021 Ontario Sire Heritage Series and Sales Credit Program.

The Mare Recruitment and Purchase Programs offer breeders incentives totaling $800,000 for bringing new in-foal mares to the province. The MRP offers all breeders a $5,000 (CDN) incentive for every new mare brought to the province to foal in 2022, while the MPP gives Ontario residents a rebate of up to 50 percent, to a maximum of $25,000 (CDN), on the purchase price of an in-foal mare from an Ontario Racing recognized public auction. Mares enrolled in both programs are then eligible for a $2,500 (CDN) incentive if they are bred to a registered Ontario Sire in 2022.

“Last time we did the program was two years ago and we exhausted all the funding, we had to turn people away. And we got 129 new mares in the province, of which 79 of them bred back to Ontario sires,” said Anderson. “I think there's a lot of potential here in the province of Ontario going forward.”

The Ontario Sire Heritage Series saw Ontario Sired three-year-old colts and geldings and three-year-old fillies accumulate points in a trio of $80,000 legs at Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks over five, six and seven furlongs. The $100,000 finals, the Lake Ontario and Ashbridges Bay Stakes at 1-1/16 miles, are slated for Friday, Nov. 19 at Woodbine Racetrack with Reload offspring Red River Rebel and Sunsprite leading the way in the colt/gelding and filly point standings. A total of $70,000 in bonuses will go to the top three point earners in each division.

In addition, owners with registered Ontario Bred horses competing in claiming races at Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks earned credits for the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Ontario yearling and mixed sales each time their horse visited the winner's circle this season.

“Hopefully with some of the new programs, like the new Heritage Series, it's going to create new demand for the Ontario Sired horse,” said Peter Berringer, president of the Ontario division of the CTHS. “You have to be optimistic when the numbers show we've stabilized, and increased slightly, and are trending in the right direction.”

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