Highlighted by the second straight undefeated season by the super filly HIDDEN GRACE, bolstered by the exploits of Manitoba-bred ESCAPE CLAUSE south of the border and completed with an exciting jockey and trainer race, Assiniboia Downs completed a solid season of racing Sunday in Winnipeg.
Friday night, Hidden Grace (Going Commando – High Pioneer by Pioneering) the 3-year-old Manitoba-bred beat the best older mares on the grounds in stunning fashion, winning the $30,000 Manitoba Matron Stakes over one mile and one eighth by almost five lengths.
Owned by Barry Arnason, Charles Fouillard and Cam Ziprick, trained by Michael Nault and ridden by Renaldo Cumberbatch, Hidden Grace has now won all eight races in her career and all have been stakes races.
Sunday’s final card included the 90th Winnipeg Futurity, one of Canada’s most popular races for 2-year-olds, and the winner was CASH OR CARD, a Florida-bred by Currency Swap owned by Oslen Belle, Larry Falloon and trainer Shelley Brown.
Jockey RICHARD MAIRS won his first jockey title at Assiniboia Downs and trainer Tom Gardipy Jr. won his sixth trainer’s award. Assiniboia Downs Darren Dunn presents – photo courtesy Assiniboia Downs
Jamaican rider RICHARD MAIRS won his first Assiniboia title with 51 wins, edging Antonia Whitehall with 47. The 32-year-old rider was in his fourth year of riding in North America.
TOM GARDIPY JR won his sixth trainer’s title with 48 wins, besting Juan Silva with 41.
The leading owner by a good margin was HENRY WITT JR. whose horses won 25 races, more than double of the total of the three barns tied for second at 12: Tijuana Racing, MJ Stable and Karen Bjarnson.
Read more about Hidden Grace’s remarkable season.
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