Monday Morning Quarter Pole @WoodbineTB: Trainer Patrick Dixon

March 4, 2024

TORONTO, March 4, 2024 – In this week’s edition of MMQP, trainer Patrick Dixon talks about his career-best 2023 campaign and goals for the 2024 Woodbine season.

Starting Gate

Top horses Perfect Crime, Simply in Front, Clear Destination, Flysofreeashleeb
Recorded 16 wins and 67 top-three finishes – both personal-best numbers – from 192 starts in 2023
$847,418 in purse earnings in 2023 was also a career-best mark
Won the Overskate Stakes with Perfect Crime
Was second in the Johnnie Walker Natalma (G1T) with Simply in Front
Was third with Flysofreeashleeb in the Wonder Where

Opening Quarter

“The other day, I went through a lot of the videos from our horses that ran in 2023. I was thinking that the horses that didn’t win always ran a competitive race. That was one of my goals for last year, to have them in competitive spots.”

“I was [confident] last year because I wanted to do something different, to change some things up a little bit. I set goals for myself. I really wanted to win a stakes race. I didn’t want to go another year having not won a stakes race. I wanted to make that happen and I wanted the horses to be more competitive, to where they had a legitimate chance at winning or being in the top three.”

Half Mile

“I don’t ever get tired of watching Perfect Crime win the Overskate. I wish I hadn’t choked up in the interview after the race, but it was an emotional moment. Our barn had worked so hard to win that race and everything just felt right going into that race.”

“I was riding him the whole week before the race and he was telling me, ‘I’m going to be doing something big soon.’ The way the race set up I just thought it was his race to win that day. He wanted to win and if you look back at the replay, you can see just how much he did want it.”

“Simply in Front finishing second in a Grade 1 race was huge for me and everyone at the barn. I feel very proud of my team, and I am so happy for John [owner, Brnjas] and the Colebrook family for that result. To have a filly finish second in a big race like that is very special.”

“Flysofreeashleeb, named after [trainer] Ashlee Brnjas, John’s daughter, who passed away in 2021, ran so well in the Wonder Where. And even though she didn’t win a race last year, she ran some very nice ones. She tried her heart out in every race and right now, she is breathing fire at the farm. I’m very excited to get her going this year. I think she’ll be an exciting horse for us this year when the races get longer.”

Stretch Drive

“I am optimistic about the horses are going to run. I’m starting to think about my goals and how things are going to set up for each horse. I am also excited about our 2-year-olds who are starting out. Some of them are looking a little more advanced than in previous years. John has bred some mares to some fast sires, so hopefully, they develop and have success.”

“We have a baby, Stormy Cloud, a half-brother to One Bad Boy, who won the 2019 Queen’s Plate. We are looking forward to seeing how he progresses.”

“I do have some quick horses that we hope are going to be ready for the start of the season [April 27]. You want to get off to a good start.”

Finish Line

“With the weather having been so nice, I want to get on the horses we have and gallop them outside and see how fast they can go – they are also feeling it.”