Canadian horsepeople who are racing south of the border this winter are not seeing the heavy amount of snow that has landed in Ontario and are winning races and making news.
Woodbine’s second-leading trainer the last two seasons, MARTIN DREXLER, has held a hot hand at Gulfstream Park early in 2026, with several longshot winners including PALACE VIEW (Ire) whose victory on Friday, January 16 was Drexler’s 900th of his career. Palace View rallied from just off the pace under Javier Castellano to win the $20,000 claiming race on Tapeta at 12-to-1, edging out another Drexler trainee, Alley Oop Johnny. And third place finisher Walter Me Lad was in the Drexler barn until a few weeks ago. The Drexler $2 exactor paid over $146. Palace View is owned by Bruno Schickedanz.
Stabled at Palm Meadows, Drexler has won with three longshots in 2026 at Gulfstream including Schickedanz’ JIM’S HOPE, an Ontario-bred chestnut gelding who won a $25,000 claiming race at one mile on the grass on Jan. 11 at 14-to-1 with a 78 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. Jim’s Hope, claimed in Dec. 2024 from breeders Paul Buttigieg and Jimmy Goodman, is by Ami’s Holiday – Blonde Breeze by Posse.
Courtney Baker’s WESTSIDE TIDE was saddled by Drexler to a win on Jan. 10 on the grass at 18-to-1. The Omaha Beach horse was claimed last spring at Gulfstream and he was a winner at Woodbine last year with trainer Rodney Barrow. Westside Tide matched his career best Beyer Figure with an 85 for his win in 1:39.80 for 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Drexler won 81 races at Woodbine in 2020 and 82 in 2024.
A former trainee of Drexler, J P HELLISH, was a winner for Ontario owners ICON RACING STABLES on Jan. 7 at Turfway Park. The 10-year-old won for $12,500 claiming in his second race since a July to December layoff. The Florida-bred has won 14 races.
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STEVEN CHIRCOP recently sent out his 300th career winner with DIGITAL SECURITY, an Ontario-bred by Maximum Security who won a maiden allowance race on Jan. 3 at Charles Town at 5-to-1. Digital Security is owned by JDLP Holdings and was bred by Minshall Farms.
Chircop also had a nice win with his recent $10,000 claim TOTAL SENSATION (Speightstown), who won his first try at Charles Town in a $32,900 allowance race, posting a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 79. And SUNLIT romped in a maiden special weight by 7 1/4 lengths on Jan. 7 as the even-money favourite after being claimed for $10,000 from a third-place finish at Woodbine. Sunlit, an Ontario-bred by Outwork, was bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack.
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Shirley and Tony Camilleri have made a trainer change for their CAMHAVEN FARMS. The Camilleris have parted ways with STEVE FLINT, who took over Camhaven training in 2023, moving to Ontario with his wife Jodie. Camhaven has hired PRESTON FERRIS as its trainer and Ferris will saddle El Capo in a maiden race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17.
Flint, who trained for 10 years for Whispering Oaks Farm before he joined Camhaven, said he “enjoyed his time at Woodbine” and was very appreciative of the care Jodie received at Princess Margaret Hospital while she battled leukemia.
Ferris, who trained a small stable from 2011 to 2021 and has 38 wins from 362 starters, is a former rodeo rider from Alberta. Among his stars he has trained include Fort Erie Horse of the Year Sniper.
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Ivan and Colleen Dalos celebrated a win on Jan. 16 by their homebred filly Charla Collection, who won her career debut in a maiden claiming race at Delta Downs. The Kentucky-bred by Charlatan – Recollect is trained by Tom Amoss.
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