A fabulous Canadian-bred three-year-old filly and a sturdy female sprinter are two of the top horses to compete in Canada in 2026 as the year comes to a close in seven weeks.
LUSTER, the remarkable grey filly owned by Gainesway Farm and Andrew Rosen and trained by Josie Carroll, won the Woodbine Oaks and King’s Plate, the latter with a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, as well as the Grade 3 Selene Stakes as part of her four-win campaign. The daughter of Knicks Go – Ruby Frost by The Factor, bred by Ravi Sugrim and Joannie Daas, has been idle since she faded in the Grade 1 QE II Cup at Keeneland, but is odds-on to be named the 2026 Horse of the Year in Canada when the Sovereign Awards are announced next spring.
One horse who became a big fan of Woodbine in 2026 is REAGAN’S FLAME, who is aiming for her fourth graded stakes win of the year this Saturday, and her third at Woodbine. The Kentucky-bred mare was brought to Woodbine in May by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for owners St. Elias Stables, BAG Racing Stables, Turf Express Racing and Watkins Diamond Stables. The daughter of Canadian-bred stallion Flameaway whistled in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes by two lengths. The five-year-old mare was fifth in the grassy Royal North Stakes (G3) and third in the Hendrie Stakes (G3) before she won the Grade 3 Seaway by 3 1/4 lengths. In her most recent start, Reagan’s Flame won the Grade 2 Presque Isles Master Stakes in near-track-record time.
On November 7, Reagan’s Flame is in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine. The bay mare can certainly challenge for Horse of the Year honours and is the leader for the Champion Female Sprinter title.
GAS ME UP, who was a troubled seventh in the Casa Creed Stakes at Belmont on November 1, won the Grade 2 King Edward at Woodbine and the Grade 2 J Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita this year while also placing third in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. He is a top candidate for Turf Male honours.
Other top runners of 2026 worth mentioning include champion PARAMOUNT PRINCE, who won two stakes races so far in 2026, one graded, and his rival RUNAWAY AGAIN, winner of one graded stakes race. Three-year-old males QUARRY, who won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby and the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, and FIRE AND WINE, Breeders’ and Ontario Derby (G3) winner, like others, may see another start in 2026.
The two-year-olds have their big Canadian-bred races coming up on Nov. 28, the Coronation Futurity and Princess Elizabeth Stakes, which should determine division leaders.
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