Never challenged through :22.07 and :45.66 splits, Patrick Husbands only had to keep his mount focused in the lane as the pair came home three lengths best over the filly Unchained Elaine (American Pharoah). Mensa is the first winner for his freshman sire (by Maclean's Music).

“He's been extremely professional from day one,” said Nick Tomlinson, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “He's a beautiful horse. A lot of the credit goes to the guys in the barn. They did a lot of gate schooling with him. They're the reason a lot of these babies are ready to roll. He's far more advanced than anyone else. Hopefully, he continues to progress from here.”

The most recent winning offspring for Lady Halite, the victor is a half-brother to  Recruiter (Army Mule), MSW, $241,985 as well as stakes-placed 3-year-old Miss Sayely (Maximus Mischief). The dam's 2023 Instagrand foal died and she is due to Nashville for 2024.

#2 MENSA ($10.00) registered a smart career debut with a victory in race 2 at Gulfstream Park under Patrick Husbands for trainer @markecasse and @DJ_Stable.

This is the first winner for @AirdrieStud's freshman stallion Complexity. pic.twitter.com/6yB5HLpLs2

— TVG (@TVG) April 12, 2024

Sales history: $135,000 Ylg '23 OBSOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Beth Bayer (FL); T-Mark E. Casse.

The post Complexity’s Mensa Sails to First Win for Freshman Sire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Finalists in each category follow. Champion Two-Year-Old Female: Diabolic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Moira (Ghostzapper), Mrs. Barbara (Bodemeiser); Champion Two-Year-Old Male: God of Love (Cupid), Grafton Street (War Front), Ironstone (Mr Speaker); Champion Three-Year-Old Female: Lorena (Souper Speedy), Munnyfor Ro (Munnings), Our Flash Drive (Ghostzapper); Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Artie's Storm (We Miss Artie), Frosted Over (Frosted), Haddassah (Air Force Blue), Uncharacteristic (Texas Wildcatter); Champion Older Main Track Female: Amalfi Coast (Tapizar), Infinite Patience (Sungold), Skygaze (American Pharoah); Champion Older Main Track Male: Mighty Heart (Dramedy), Pink Lloyd (Old Forester), Sir Winston (Awesome Again); Champion Female Turf Horse: Amalfi Coast, Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer), Our Flash Drive; Champion Male Turf Horse: Avie's Flatter (Flatter), Silent Poet (Silent Name {Jpn}), Town Cruise (Town Prize); Champion Female Sprinter: Amalfi Coast, Lorena, Our Secret Agent (Secret Circle); Champion Male Sprinter: Avie's Flatter, Pink Lloyd, Souper Stonehenge (Speightstown); Outstanding Broodmare: Avie's Empire (Empire Maker); Include Katherine (Include), Sunday Affair (A.P. Indy); Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs, Sam-Son Farm, Tall Oaks Farm; Outstanding Owner: Gary Barber, Godolphin, LLC, Live Oak Plantation; Outstanding Trainer: Kevin Attard, Josie Carroll, Mark E. Casse; Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Michael David, Mauricio Malvaez, Edgar Zenteno; Outstanding Jockey: Rafael Manuel Hernandez, Patrick Husbands, Kazushi Kimura, Justin Stein.

The post Sovereign Award Finalists Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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It was a typical Barbados day, the sun beaming down on a near cloudless morning high above the dirt road in the parish of St. Thomas, along the familiar route the teenager would sometimes traverse to and from Grantley Adams Secondary.

This walk, however, was unlike any other he had taken before.

“There was a horse farm, no more than a quarter-mile from my house, probably less than that, which I could see from my window,” Trotman started. “One day, I heard these voices, and they seemed like they were calling to me. And I thought to myself, 'I'm going to go see what this is all about.' I made the decision to do that, to take those steps, and it changed my life.”

A young life that was in turmoil.

“Growing up in an abusive family, knowing how things were in my house, I used to pray every day and ask God when things were going to change, when they would get better. Seeing my father abuse my mother, it was horrible. All she did was work hard and support her family. She was a stay-at-home mom, who did everything to take care of us. I needed something to turn to. It became the horses.”

Some days, Trotman would skip school just to be around them.

Gradually, his connection with the horses grew, as did his self-confidence and the want of a better life.

“I got caught up on the streets, hanging out with the wrong company. It's not what or who I wanted to be. I knew that wasn't the life I wanted to live. I wanted something better for myself. God, he put me into horse racing and because of that, my whole life changed.”

More than he had ever imagined.

In 1990, Trotman made the decision to leave Barbados to pursue a life in racing.

“My brother was reading the newspaper and saw that there was an opportunity to go to Canada to work with horses at Woodbine. Here I was, a skinny teenage kid from Barbados showing up on the backstretch at one of the best racetracks in the world.”

His first job was as a groom for Hall of Fame trainer Gord Huntley.

Trotman also freelanced when he was done each morning working for Huntley, a conditioner whose operation typically saw several of his band claimed or sold.

“By July or August, there weren't many horses around with Gord. [Trainers] Steve Owens and Rich Papa were in the same barn and when I finished work with Gord around 10 in the morning, I would go work for other people doing different things here and there. When I got laid-off from Gord, I continued to help Steve.”

His association with Owens would eventually be a game changer for Trotman.

But it wouldn't come without its hurdles.

“I ended up going back home because the government in Canada felt it was unfair to give certain jobs to workers who came from outside of the country. But thankfully, it got cleared up and when I came back, I started working with Steve. One day, we were just talking and he told me to go out and get my assistant trainer license. Steve and his wife, they gave me the opportunity to get my assistant trainer's license and to start making a name for myself.”

Trotman did exactly that.

He remembered what he was taught in Barbados, words he recalled every morning he came to the backstretch.

“I had to earn respect from people, and I worked hard to do that. Growing up in Barbados, you were taught early on that respect is something that you earn. Respect can take you so far. I always had that in my head. I listened and learned from people every day.”

When tragedy struck the Woodbine backstretch in August – a barn fire swept through multiple barns with 32 horses perishing as a result – Trotman was thrust into a new role working for Owens, who lost all 14 of his horses.

In the aftermath of the fire, he began working with the veterinarians assigned to the case, leading to a new racetrack role in the form of veterinary assistant.

Those new skills, along with countless others he had learned along the way, would play an integral role in the next chapter of his Thoroughbred career when he went to work as assistant trainer to Reade Baker.

Trotman recalled two early conversations he had with the veteran conditioner.

“Reade would be in Florida at times, and I would have to run the barn until he came home. The first time I called him and asked him what he wants me to do, he said, 'I gave you a job to do and if you can't do it, let me find somebody else.' And that really made me think. A little while later, I had another question for him because there was a problem going on. His response was, 'Don't call me with a problem, call me with solutions.' For me, a young guy from the Caribbean, someone telling me that meant so much because I was always hoping for this kind of opportunity, to have that responsibility, and he gave it to me. That's how I took it. I felt like I just won the lottery. I said to myself, 'Let's get to work and solve the problem.' And I did.”

The two men formed a formidable duo over their time together, sending out a slew of horses to stakes success while perennially charting in the upper ranks of the Woodbine training colony.

They got out of the gates quickly working as a tandem.

“My very first horse I prepared for Reade as an assistant went out and won. The horse was called Fire Power. We ran the horse a few weeks later, and he won again. It was so thrilling.”

But it was an Alberta-bred named Free Fee Lady who delivered Trotman with his most cherished moments working alongside Baker.

The daughter of Victory Gallop, owned by Harlequin Ranches, didn't show much in her morning works in the weeks leading up to her first start in the spring of 2006.

Something, however, caught Trotman's attention.

“Other fillies she worked with kept on getting the better of her. My eyes were seeing something no one else was seeing. Reade wanted to run her in a claimer but I asked him to run her at maiden special weight. He said, 'I don't think she'll be able to do that.' I begged him to give me one chance with her and she just got beat in a maiden special weight race.”

Free Fee Lady would go one better in both the Bison City and Wonder Where, the final two jewels in the Canadian Triple Tiara.

After the Wonder Where score, Baker, in his post-race interview in the Woodbine winner's circle, praised Trotman.

It took a few seconds for Trotman to process the moment and words he was hearing.

“Reade said my name in the winner's circle. He said that if it wasn't for his assistant trainer, this filly would have been running for claiming. Hearing him say that in the winner's circle, that meant the world to me. He didn't have to do that. He could have taken all the credit, but he didn't. I never forgot that.”

Just as he didn't forget an offer that had come his way during his 11 years with Baker.

Fellow Barbadian and champion jockey Patrick Husbands had approached Trotman in 2012 about becoming his agent.

Trotman mulled over the opportunity, but not for long.

“I'm a loyal person and things were going so well. It wasn't the right time and that's not me.”

A few years later, Husbands asked the question once more.

“It was the right time. I had a chance to be farm manager, but after talking to Reade, who I always passed things by, he told me to be in the public eye and that wouldn't have made me happy. When Patrick asked me again to be his agent, I asked Reade what he thought. He said, 'Leroy, go get it.'”

And so, Trotman did.

In 2016, he took over the reins as Husbands' agent, a job that came with a steady number of new challenges and plenty of unknowns.

“I was a horseman, but I learned about the business side with Reade. You need an understanding of business to do this job right. Self-employed, paying taxes – all of those things were new to me. I went into it with a little bit of fear, but life challenges are something you need to accept. If you want to go forward in life, you have to face those challenges if you want to go anywhere.”

Forty-one years after leaving his island home, Trotman, who at one time held the book of Keveh Nicholls, and is also the agent for Sahin Civaci, has gone further than he had ever envisioned.

It's something he's reminded of every time he walks through the barns at the Toronto oval each racing season.

“I have earned the respect of people at Woodbine and I'm thankful for that. I'm able to go into any barn and I'm accepted, whether they wanted to ride Patrick or not. I have so much respect for the trainers, in that I'm able to have conversations with every one of them. The acceptance of being an agent is something I am grateful for. People can say I got lucky by getting one of the best riders at Woodbine the first time I was an agent, but I worked hard to get that point.”

Others certainly took notice.

“Leroy has always loved working in the racing industry,” said Owens. “He is truly dedicated to his job, from groom to assistant trainer and now in his role as agent to top rider Patrick Husbands. Leroy is a gentleman and it's been a pleasure working with him over the years. We have always considered him part of our family.”

“I know that Leroy always has my best interests at heart, as a rider and a person,” added Husbands. “He's worked hard to get where he is, and he has never taken any of it for granted.”

There isn't trace of conceit in Trotman's voice when he speaks of his accomplishments.

Rather, there is an unmistakable humbleness in his tone, underscored by a graciousness that comes with the contentment of a dream realized.

“Horse racing has given me so much. I came to this country as a boy leaving school at 15, with nothing in my pocket. I continued to work hard and put in the effort. My thought every day was that I wanted to be a good horseperson. People say that someone is a good groom, a good jockey or a good trainer. I wanted to be a good horseperson. That's the only title I have ever wanted. I cherish that. Now, I have so much because I have the horses and horse racing in my life. I have three kids and a wonderful family life. How could I not be happy?”

Soon, Trotman will be back working at Woodbine in preparation for the upcoming season, eager to soak up the camaraderie and atmosphere of the bustling backstretch.

The once conflicted teenager who had yearned for a better life, the one who prayed to escape the unhappy times he knew, now walks a placid path to the place that has become his second home.

To where he'll hear the familiar sound of the horses calling.

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Jockey Patrick Husbands guided 8-5 choice, Sir Winston, to a game score in the 1 ½-mile Tapeta test, edging stablemate Frosted Over by a hard-fought half-length to take all the spoils in the event for three-year-olds and upward.

The final time was 2:31.51.

Husbands, one of Woodbine's most successful and decorated riders, was emotional after the race, noting that he will contemplate retirement over the winter months.

“I want to say thanks to Mark…time out,” said Husbands, who teamed with Casse to net the most jockey-trainer stakes victories at the meet with 10. “I had a hard week. I texted Mark around 11:30 on Wednesday night and Mark returned my call Thursday morning and I would not answer the phone. I said, 'Mark, I'm done.' And he said, 'You can't do this, Patrick. You can't go out like this. You have to let Woodbine know that you are finished.' In my heart, I want to be here. I wanted to make today, right now, my last ride at Woodbine. Woodbine was great to me. But Mark told me I had the whole winter to think about it. I tip my hat off to Mark. He was there for me from day one. Everyone was there for me through my injuries. So, I will think about it through the winter.”

Whatever his decision, the Barbados-born champion rider, who has won some of Canada's biggest races, including the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with Wando, will look back fondly on his Valedictory victory.

“From looking at the racing form, there's not really much speed in the race, and drawn so wide, I want to cut the first corner,” said Husbands, who now has a record five Valedictory crowns. “I never had ridden him in my life yet and all the years riding at Woodbine, Mark never gave me instructions. He hired me to do a job and we've been successful all these years. So, I made sure I can get him out of there, cut the first turn and then play it by ear, and he relaxed right off the bat.”

Bred and owned by Tracy Farmer, Sir Winston, a 5-year-old son of Awesome Again, paid $5.30 for the win.

Kazushi Kimura earned his first Woodbine jockey crown – the first Japanese-born rider to achieve the feat – with 138 wins at the meet, while his mounts earned $6,360,203 million.

“It's a special achievement, and it was one of my dreams,” said the 22-year-old Kimura. “Everybody wants to be a leading rider, but it's not easy. We just need great riding skills and good horses, good support from the trainers and owners for the whole season to be able to get the title. This year, I'd say I improved, and I got good support from trainers and owners. I appreciate that help for me to get the riding title.”

Born in Hokkaido, Kimura joined the Woodbine jockey colony as a 19-year-old apprentice in 2018 and made a strong first impression. He finished his first Woodbine campaign sixth in the standings with 89 wins and his mounts totaled more than $2.3 million in earnings. His first victory came aboard 70-1 longshot Tornado Cat, and his first stakes win came aboard Speedy Soul in the Muskoka. The Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding apprentice, Kimura also won the Sovereign Award equivalent in both 2018 and 2019.

His Woodbine successes include Gretzky the Great (Grade 1 Summer Stakes) and Lady Grace (Grade 2 Royal North). Another local highlight was his second-place finish aboard Magnetic Charm, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, in the 2019 Canadian Stakes.

This year, Kimura won eight stakes at the Toronto oval, including Corelli in the Grade 3 Singspiel, Our Secret Agent in the Grade 3 Hendrie, Frosted Over in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and Swinging Mandy in the Victorian Queen.

Mark Casse topped the trainer leaderboard for the 13th time courtesy of 110 wins. Martin Drexler took second spot in the standings with 56 wins, while Kevin Attard was third with 55 victories. Casse led all conditioners in purse earnings with $8,189,186, followed by Attard and Josie Carroll.

Highlights were many for Casse, who recorded 27 Woodbine stakes victories, 19 more than his closest rival.

A lifetime winner of 3,226 races, the dual Hall of Fame horseman has plenty of reasons to be thrilled with his 2021 campaign, Woodbine and beyond.

“For us, not just in Toronto, and all over, it's been a really good year. I'm excited because we have a lot of nice young prospects too with God of Love winning the Grey and Cup and Saucer, Mrs. Barbara winning the Mazarine, Golden Glider – those kinds of horses. The horse I ran on Saturday at Woodbine, Sir for Sure, he's a maiden, but he's a really nice horse, and it will be fun to watch him going long next year.”

When did Casse know it was going to be a prosperous campaign?

“You never know. I'm kind of like the gambler playing poker. I never count my money when I'm sitting at the table.”

Casse has high praise for his team at Woodbine.

“We have wonderful people that have been with us for a long time. They are very dedicated and passionate in what they do, day in and day out. A lot of people might not know, but our entire staff are all Canadians. This was a trying year for everybody because of the late start, but we made sure the horses were ready.”

Casse is hopeful the 2022 Woodbine racing season brings with it a return to normalcy.

“Our season is geared towards Woodbine. Obviously, we run at different places, but over the years, we've built up a strong Canadian group, not just in horses, but owners. They want to see their horses and get out there and enjoy the racing, so hopefully, in 2022, we can all have the type of year everyone is used to.”

Before the start of the new season here, Casse, a 13-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's outstanding trainer, will continue to speak highly of his attachment to Woodbine.

“Wherever I go, Woodbine and my name seem to go hand-in-hand. And that is something I am very proud of.”

Gary Barber was the leading money-winning owner of the meet for the third straight campaign, followed by Live Oak Plantation and Ivan Dalos.

Live Thoroughbred racing will return to Woodbine next spring, opening day tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2022, while Standardbred racing will continue to run four days a week at Woodbine Mohawk Park all-year-round.

The post Mark Casse, Kazushi Kimura Earn Titles At Woodbine; Patrick Husbands Contemplates Retirement appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In a crowded field of 14, Jelgo and Collective Force were the fastest out of the gate before Collective Force took over down the stretch the first time. War Bomber streaked to the lead on the far outside as they approached the first turn, getting out to a three-length advantage around the bend and onto the backstretch. Behind him were Collective Force and Frosted Over, who stalked the moderate pace with fractions of :24.78 for the first quarter, :50.36 for the half mile, and 1:16.23 for six furlongs. As the field approached the far turn, Frosted Over made his move for the lead, Patrick Husbands and Sir Winston following.

Around the far turn, the Casse trainees were on even terms, with Frosted Over on the rail and Sir Winston on his outside. They stayed even as they straightened into the Woodbine stretch, with Frosted Over showing a head in front as the two battled down the straight. Sir Winston was not done, digging in and pulling past the 3-year-old in the last sixteenth of a mile. At the wire, Sir Winston was three-quarters of a length in front of Frosted Over, with Collective Force holding on for third and Burning Man fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:31.51.

Sir Winston paid $5.30, $2.90, and $2.80. Frosted Over paid $4.70 and $4.40. Collective Force paid $10.60.

Bred in Kentucky by owner Tracy Farmer, Sir Winston is by Awesome Again out of the Afleet Alex mare La Gran Bailadora, a G3 stakes winner. The 5-year-old horse was a $50,000 RNA consigned by Denali Stud at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his win in the G3 Valedictory, Sir Winston has two wins in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 19 starts.

The post Sir Winston Wins Stretch Battle To Take Valedictory At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Starting from the far outside of the field of eight, jockey Patrick Husbands hustled Mighty Heart to the lead, with Primo Touch and Embolden following in second and third. Around the first turn and down the backstretch, Mighty Heart was a length to the good, running easily on the lead putting in fractions of :23.86, :47.23, and 1:11.36.

Entering the far turn, the field started to make their move, but Mighty Heart was steadfast in the lead. Sir Winston, sixth early, ran into traffic on the turn, going to the outside in the stretch to find a clear running lane. Special Forces and Halo Again were also challenging Mighty Heart in the stretch, Sir Winston driving late, but the 2020 Horse of the Year held the race safe. He was a half-length in front of Sir Winston at the wire, with Special Forces third and Halo Again fourth.

The final time was 1:42.51.

Mighty Heart paid  $9.20, $4.00, and $2.30. Sir Winston paid $2.60 and $2.10. Special Forces paid $2.20.

Bred in Ontario by his owner Larry Cordes, Mighty Heart is a 4-year-old colt by Dramedy out of the City Place mare Emma's Bullseye. He is trained by Josie Carroll. With his win in the G2 Autumn, Mighty Heart has three wins in seven starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 15 starts.

The post Mighty Heart Holds Off Sir Winston To Win Autumn Stakes At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A bay son of Hootenanny, Hicksy, under Antonio Gallardo, tracked 6-5 choice Ironstone through a quarter in :23.08 and a half in :46.10, before turning up the pressure around the turn for home in the seven-furlong main track race for two-year-old colts and geldings.

The duo slugged it out down the stretch with Hicksy taking over late, going on to notch a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:23.38. Ironstone was second and Optigogo was third.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Lani Bloodstock LLC, the Kentucky-bred colt won his second straight race and notched his first stakes crown in what was his first added-money appearance.

“He was just kind of an unassuming little horse, just kind of a straightforward horse,” recalled owner Donato Lanni. “He just looked real kind and classy. I've been active in Kentucky, but I'm from Canada, from Montreal, and I always wanted to come back here and have some horses to run. I have a lot of friends and family in Toronto and it's just great to come back and hang out with my people.”

After a troubled fourth in his career bow on September 12 at Woodbine, Hicksy broke his maiden on October 3, in a race also contested at the Toronto oval.

“He's come a long way,” praised Attard. “We always thought highly of him. When he came to me from Kentucky, Donato said, 'This horse is really eager, he's been showing promise.' When he got here, he had a few little hiccups, just kind of baby stuff. His first race, we were expecting a little more out of him, but he kind of pulled a shoe off and I think that was a good enough excuse. Obviously, his last start, he put it together with an impressive win.”

Hicksy, bred by Richard Forbush, paid $6.60 for the Display victory.

Aubrieta, bred and owned by Conrad Farms, was back in the winner's circle, this time in the Glorious Song Stakes.

Sent on her way at 6-1 in the seven-furlong main track race for two-year-old fillies, the Mark Casse trainee was content to watch the early leaders duke it out before delivering her knockout punch.

Fulminate and Marie MacKay battled out on the front end, leading the field through opening splits of :22.83 and :45.55. Aubrieta, under patient handling from Patrick Husbands, was positioned fourth, well within striking distance of the top two.

When Husbands gave the Ontario-bred daughter of Speightster her cue, the bay responded willingly and sprinted away from her foes down the stretch, crossing the wire a two-length winner. Howdyoumakeurmoney rallied to secure second, a neck in front of Chocolate Addiction.

The final time was 1:22.85.

Aubrieta, who won her debut on September 11, was second in the Shady Well Stakes on October 8.

“You miss the break and Justin (jockey Stein, aboard Marie MacKay) got everything his way,” said Husbands, of the Shady Well. “But she showed me after the race that she was the best horse in the race. She galloped out like the winner. I called Mark after the race and said, 'Boss, she wanted to win so bad. She still thinks she won.'”

Husbands is confident Aubrieta can stretch out with ease.

“That (two turns) is what she wants to go.”

The post Hicksy, Aubrieta Win Juvenile Stakes At Woodbine Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“We're always excited when he runs,” Carroll said of the horse who sports a career record of 5-2-2 in 13 starts. “He's a horse that goes over and gives you everything he has every time, so you know he's going to go over there and show up.”

Mighty Heart, the one-eyed wonder who stormed to victory in the 2020 Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales en route to Canada's Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male honors, comes into the Durham Cup off a second-place finish to Tap It to Win on September 11 at Woodbine in the Grade 3 $150,000 Seagram Cup.

Carroll's assessment of that performance?

“I think the horse that won got away with an easy pace and nobody chased him,” she said, adding Mighty Heart, a son of Dramedy-Emma's Bullseye, is primed and ready for the rematch with Tap It to Win in the Durham Cup. “(Mighty Heart is) his happy self. He's in good order.”

The Durham Cup is the third race on a stakes card that also includes the 85th running of the $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes (race 8) and the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (Grade 3, race 9).

Mighty Heart has drawn post one in the five-horse Durham Cup field and will be ridden by Patrick Husbands. Tap It to Win, trained by Mark Casse, has post three. Casse also sends out the second richest horse in the field, Sir Winston, from post two. Halo Again (post four) and Special Forces (post five) round out the field.

But there's no doubt that Mighty Heart is the media darling and fan favorite in the group.

“It's a lot of fun and it's wonderful for the owners,” Carroll said. “They've never had a horse like this and they're enjoying every minute of it.”

FIELD FOR THE DURHAM CUP

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Mighty Heart – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

2 – Sir Winston – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

3 – Tap It to Win – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

4 – Halo Again – Shaun Bridgmohan – Steve Asmussen

5 – Special Forces – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

The Grade 3 $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes drew a field of six, including Casse starters Art of Almost (post one, Emma-Jayne Wilson), Crystal Glacier (post two, Kazushi Kimura) and Skygaze (Husbands, post six), winner of the $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes on September 12 at Woodbine.

Set at 1 1/16-miles on the Tapeta, the race for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upwards, was first run in 1979.

La Voyageuse took the first two edition for owner Jean-Louis Levesque, trainer Yonnie Star and jockey Paul Souter.

FIELD FOR THE ONTARIO MATRON

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Art of Almost – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

2 – Crystal Glacier – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

3 – Afleet Katherine – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

4 – Saratoga Vision (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Alexander Patykewich

5 – Juxtapose (S) – Gary Boulanger – Steve Owens

6 – Skygaze – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

The post Carroll: Any Day Mighty Heart Races Is A Good Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A bay son of English Channel, British Royalty, who had been claimed away from trainer and co-owner Barb Minshall this summer, made his Triple Crown series debut a successful one, sprinting away from his rivals with ease to win the race for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds.

Facing a field that included Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct, Plate runner-up Riptide Rock, Prince of Wales Stakes champ Haddassah, and a host of other talented turf types, British Royalty had his work cut out for him.

On an overcast day at the Toronto oval, he came shining through with a top-shelf score.

It was Safe Conduct who seized control of the 1 ½-mile grass marathon, as Haddassah, in second, and Keep Grinding, in third, kept close tabs on the leader, while Patrick Husbands had British Royalty comfortably settled in seventh spot through an opening quarter in :25.00.

The Plate winner continued to call the shots through a half-mile reached in :51.53 as Collective Force, now second, shadowed the pacesetter's every move. Husbands guided British Royalty into sixth spot, as the gelding and Riptide Rock started to gain momentum on the frontrunners.

Safe Conduct soon found himself under siege from both sides, as Collective Force battled on gamely, and British Royalty found another gear, blasting to the lead and holding a one-length advantage on a surging Riptide Rock at Robert Geller's stretch call reached in 2:09.05.

At the wire, British Royalty was a convincing and deserving four-length victor.

Riptide Rock and Collective Force, second and third respectively, were well ahead of their nearest rivals. Harlan Estate was fourth in the race contested over yielding ground. The final time was 2:34.00.

Sent off at 24-1, British Royalty returned $51.20 for the win, marking his second victory in nine career starts.

For Minshall, who lost the horse to a claim on July 11 and then claimed him back on July 24, the win was one of the most rewarding of her career.

“I was looking to win a race, and I took a chance, and I was very upset with myself for taking such a chance,” recalled the champion conditioner, who co-owns the horse with Bruce Lunsford. “And lo and behold, the horse is back in the next time, he runs two weeks later, and I couldn't get in there fast enough to get him back. I knew I made a huge mistake. So, I'm really happy.”

Husbands, who won the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with Wando, and recorded his fifth Breeders' Stakes title, was understandably thrilled to partner with the Richard Lister-bred sophomore for the first time.

“My agent (Leroy Trotman) came to my house, and he said to me, 'I got a ride for you, but will you look at the form?' I said, 'Leroy, that's what I pay you for. I want to get your opinion.' He said that Barb (Minshall) said you can come and work the horse and if you don't like it, she won't be mad at you. I came and breezed the horse, about 20 minutes later my agent asked me how the horse went. I said please don't tell Barbie, but this horse is light. I've ridden him the last two breezes, and he went twice on softer turf, and he ran (today) the way I expected he would run.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson, aboard Safe Conduct, had high praise for the eighth-place finisher.

“I mean, he's fantastic. I followed him since last year. Obviously, the trainer asked about me about riding him when he was a two-year-old. I've been keeping close tabs on him ever since. So, I mean kudos and congratulations for winning the (Queen's) Plate. I was hoping I could get them another jewel of the crown, but it wasn't our day to day.”

The Breeders' win marked an outstanding weekend for Lunsford, whose homebred Art Collector took yesterday's Grade 1 Woodward at Belmont.

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Trained by Mark Casse, who won both Woodbine stakes on Saturday, Skygaze, a four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah-Skyscape, broke alertly in the Belle Mahone and sat second to pacesetter Fate Factor, who led the way through the opening quarter timed in :24.79.

Skygaze continued to track Fate Factor through a half in :48.73, but by the three-quarters mark, the positions were reversed.

It was game over mid-way down the lane as Skygaze romped to her fifth victory from 11 career starts for owner Tracy Farmer.

Crystal Glacier, also a Casse trainee, was second, a neck ahead of No Mo Lady. Art of Almost, another Casse charge, was fourth. Final time for the race was 1:42.72.

“By the three-quarter pole, I was loaded,” said Husbands. “She was the best today.”

It was the first stakes win for Skygaze, who was bred by Normandy Farm LLC. She was third in the 2019 edition of the Grade 3 Mazarine and third in the Grade 3 Trillium on June 26, her last start before the Belle Mahone.

“Last time I rode her, she was a little bit quiet,” noted Husbands. “Today, I went alone and warmed her up. It showed in her form that she likes to be in the race and the last time I rode her, she was flat the whole way with me. Today, she showed me that she really wanted to be in the race. She showed she was the best.”

Skygaze paid $5.50 to win.

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