Ella It Is powers home for Ashbridges Bay Stakes score / One-eyed Kekoa holds off Ciunas to win Lake Ontario Stakes

November 21, 2025

TORONTO, November 21, 2025 – Ella It Is rallied impressively to take the $100,000 Ashbridges Bay Stakes, part of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series, on Friday at Woodbine.

Sent off at 9-5, Ella It Is, with Pietro Moran aboard, broke well and settled in fourth, as Hint showed the way early in the 1 1/16-mile main track event for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies, reaching the opening quarter a half-length on top in a tepid :25.48.

Hint, making her first stakes appearance, maintained her advantage along the backstretch, still tracked to her outside by Miss Pierre, while Brengungirl sat third, followed closely by Ella It Is.

Ahead by a half-length through a half in :50.63, Hint found herself under pressure from Miss Pierre into the turn home, as Ella It Is, scraping the paint, waited for a seam and her cue from Moran.

Hint was still calling the shots in upper stretch, but Ella It Is was guided to the two-path and began to reel in the determined frontrunner, before taking over the proceedings with 200 yards to the finish line.

At the wire, Ella It Is posted a 1 ¼-length victory in a time of 1:47.01. Hint was 3 ¼ lengths clear of 33-1 Peace Posey for second. Juicy Hanna was a further 3 ¾ lengths back in fourth. Regal Moment was scratched.

It was the first lifetime stakes triumph for the daughter of Point of Entry out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Our Ella. Last year, the bay was second in both the Victorian Queen Stakes and South Ocean Stakes.

“She's pretty easy going,” said Moran, who posted the sixth stakes win of his impressive 2025 campaign. “She could do whatever you want. She won on the lead earlier this year with me, and off the pace now. So, she's just a very easy-going horse, a sweetheart, very nice to ride. I was just sitting on a ton of horse, and she did the rest.”

Trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, Ella It Is improved her record to 4-3-0 from 12 career starts.

René and Darlene Hunderup (Heste Sport Inc.) bred and own Ella It Is, who debuted last July and finished seventh but rebounded with a smart two-length score in a 6 ½-furlong main track race, also at the Toronto oval, that was originally scheduled for the turf.

She paid $5.90 for today’s win.

There is also a total of $70,000 in bonus money for the Heritage Series, $35,000 for each division – awarded $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 for the top three point-earning colts/geldings and fillies.

The final standings can be found here: tip.ontarioracing.com/tip-stakes-program/).

Chris Lomon, Woodbine

One-eyed Kekoa holds off Ciunas to win Lake Ontario Stakes

TORONTO, November 21, 2025— Kekoa held off a late charge from Ciunas to win the $100,000 Lake Ontario Stakes by a neck on Friday at Woodbine, the finale of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series finale for 3-year-old colts & geldings.

The race, contested over 1 1/16 miles on the main Tapeta track, was originally scheduled for the Sunday (Nov. 16) card that was cancelled due to high winds.

Kekoa, a gelding who does not have a right eye, was ridden to the 1:45.35 victory in the field of eight by Austin Adams for trainer Catherine Day Phillips and owners Stephan and Rita Shefsky, Toby and Willy Kruh, Danny Vella and Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd. Kekoa was bred by Mark Dodson. It was the fourth stakes win of the year for Adams.

"He was really fighting for me, and I was just riding him home,” Adams said. “I could feel [Ciunas] coming. But, [Kekoa] felt the horse behind him too, and he really helped me out in the lane."

The Ontario-sired and bred son of Reload out of the Dansili (GB) mare Henley Hill (GB), now sports a record of 2-1-2 in seven 2025 and earnings of $112,981 this year and $217,972 lifetime. His career record is now 4-3-3 in 14 starts.

Day Phillips said Kekoa not having a right eye wasn’t necessarily an advantage in that he couldn’t see Ciunas coming, but, “surprisingly, it hasn't bothered him. He really adjusted well. He lost his eye over the winter, and he, surprisingly, has adjusted well to it, and doesn't really mind horses around him, doesn't really mind what goes on. He does turn his head to have a good look around with his one eye in the mornings, but in general, it hasn't affected his racing.

"He's a very nice horse. We're very, very lucky to have him."

The Lake Ontario was the finale of the division’s Ontario-Sired Heritage Series that pays tribute to the four Great Lakes that border Ontario. Go Kart Mozart won both the $100,000 Lake Huron Stakes first leg over five furlongs on June 22 on the inner turf at Woodbine and the third and final leg, the $100,000 Lake Erie Stakes over 6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 9 at Fort Erie. Dark Screen won the middle leg – the $100,000 Lake Superior over six furlongs on July 27 over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine.

Those two wins and a third already gave Go Kart Mozart the seasonal victory in the Heritage Series for sophomore males with 25 points. He was not entered for the Lake Ontario, but Dark Screen finished fifth in the Lake Ontario.

In the Ontario-sire Heritage Series for 3-year-old fillies, Rhaenyra won the 2025 title with 15 points.

Established in 2021, the Ontario Sired Heritage Series is comprised of three $100,000 legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: 3-year-old colts & geldings, and 3-year-old fillies. The total purse structure for the series is $800,000. There is also a total of $70,000 in bonus money for the Heritage Series, $35,000 for each division – awarded $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 for the top three point earning colts/gelding and fillies. (Details here).

Dave Briggs, Ontario Racing