Heritage Series concludes Sunday at Woodbine
TORONTO, November 14, 2024 – A pair of stakes, the $100,000 Lake Ontario and $100,000 Ashbridges Bay, co-headline Sunday’s card at Woodbine. The 1 1/16-mile main track events are the curtain-closers for the eight-leg Heritage Series.
The 2024 Ontario Sired Heritage Series features a total of four races – three opening legs and one final – for both 3-year-old colts & geldings and 3-year-old fillies. The total purse structure for the series is $800,000, offering three $100,000 preliminary legs per race, per division, along with a pair of $100,000 finals for both divisions.
At the end of the series, $70,000 in bonuses will be paid to the top three horses in each division based upon a points system that rewards the top three finishers in each stage (Details here: tip.ontarioracing.com/tip-stakes-program/).
Seven hopefuls, including John Ross trainees Junior Hot Shot and Garofoli, will contest the Lake Ontario.
“It’s nice that we have these Ontario-sired programs going on here,” said Ross. “I certainly appreciate having the chance to run some of my horses in these races.”
A son of Souper Speedy out of the Bold Executive mare Executive Dreamer, Junior Hot Shot has enjoyed a prosperous sophomore campaign, which includes back-to-back stakes success, both in Heritage Series events, in his past two starts.
On Aug. 25, in rein to regular rider Justin Stein, the colt, owned by T and T Racing Team, secured a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Elgin.
One race later, on Sept. 10, Junior Hot Shot took his talents to Fort Erie and subsequently won the 6 ½-furlong Lake Erie by a length.
“He’s really hit his best stride,” said Ross. “He’s growing and he’s developed into a nice and strong 3-year-old. I think he’s going to get even better as he grows older.”
The dark bay delivered in his debut, a 6 ½-length romp over 6 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine main and followed it up with a third next time out in the Frost King Stakes, the final start of his 2-year-old season.
Junior Hot Shot, who fashions a 4-1-1 mark from 8 starts, and $165,856 in lifetime purse earnings, will contest his sixth consecutive stakes engagement.
“He’s just improving. I know he was close to the lead in his last race, but he is a push-button horse. If you want to take him back, he will. If you want to go forward, he will.
“This race, it’s a mile and a sixteenth, a distance he hasn’t gone before, but I think the way he is training, he can relax in the race. Justin [jockey, Stein] thinks so too, that we can get this done going a mile and a sixteenth.”
Bred by Dr. B. Van Arem, Junior Hot Shot was a $55,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2022 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
Ross’ other hopeful comes in the form of Garofoli, the field’s most experienced runner.
In 15 starts, the son of Souper Speedy out of the Sky Conqueror mare Sky Mother Earth is 3-1-2, along with $117,315 in purse earnings.
The hard knocking gelding has made six stakes appearances with his best result a third to stablemate Junior Hot Shot in the Elgin.
“I really think he has it in him to win a stakes race,” said Ross. “He is speed oriented, but [jockey] Fraser Aebly believes he can rate him as well. We have to see how the pace goes, but he deserves something. He’s been a lovely horse for us.”
Garofoli’s first start came over 5 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track on Aug. 13, 2023.
He recorded his milestone first win in his fourth start, on Oct. 6, 2023, courtesy of a 4 ¾-length score at six panels on the main track.
The consistent dark bay has finished in the top four in 11 of his 15 races.
“He has been a lovely horse for [owners] Brian Broughton and Hal Mattson,” said Ross. “They have had a lot of fun with him. He’s won those three races, and if he doesn’t win, he is always there and takes home a prize, which keeps owners smiling.”
Junior Hot Shot and Garofoli worked in tandem on Nov. 8, covering five panels in 1:00.00.
“They worked in a minute and galloped out in :13 and change,” noted Ross. “That was a nice effort together.
“Garofoli is more of a quirky horse than Junior Hot Shot, who we can do anything with. When I work Garofoli from the pole, I need a pony to get him going. Once he does get going, he works very well.”
Bred by Stephen H. Birks, Garofoli was a $12,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2022 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
Steve O’Neil McIarty is the groom for both horses.
Seven fillies, including multiple stakes winners Hurricane Clair, Georgian Bay Stakes winner Little Teddy, and last year’s Victorian Queen Stakes winner War Painter, will contest the Ashbridges Bay.
First post is 12:50 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.
Field for the Lake Ontario (Race 11)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Junior Hot Shot – Justin Stein – John Ross
2 – No More Options – Ryan Munger – Zeljko Krcmar
3 – Summer Commander – Jose Campos – Stuart Simon
4 – Jo Daddy – Sahin Civaci – Carlos Grant
5 – Garofoli – Fraser Aebly – John Ross
6 – Cornwall – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux
7 – Cooler Man – Eswan Flores – Nick Nosowenko
Field for the Ashbridges Bay (Race 10)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Hurricane Clair – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler
2 – Never Silent – Ryan Munger – Catherine Day Phillips
3 – Little Teddy – Austin Adams – Santino Di Paola
4 – Frac Amour – Juan Crawford – Julie Mathes
5 – Nikita’s Gem – Jose Campos – Sid Attard
6 – War Painter – Fraser Aebly – Kevin Attard
7 – Secret Load – Justin Stein – Paul Buttigieg
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
