There are just three racing nights left at ASSINIBOIA DOWNS for 2026 and last week, a few of the Manitoba’s oldest races were held.
On Tuesday night, GUITARS N CADILAXS went straight to the front in the 97th running of the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity and improved his record to a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime with another 2 1/2-length win. His time of 1:13 was a 49 Beyer Speed Figure.
The 2-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Forego Stakes (G1) winner Yaupon out of the multiple stakes-producing mare Air Guitar by Five Star Day was winning his second stakes in a row at ASD after previously winning the $50,000 Osiris Stakes on September 8 for trainer Robert Van Overschot and jockey Antonio Reyes, both of whom operate primarily at Century Mile in Alberta. Guitars N Cadillaxs is owned by Paul Caravetta, SS Stables and Adam Isfeld. The juvenile was a $5,000 purchase from a Fasig Tipton Digital sale in March.
While Guitars N Cadilaxs again looked impressive, this time defeating Honourable Mention, it was the third-place finisher that really caught our eye.
Fleetwood Max finished 1 ½-lengths behind Honourable Mention, but he was making his first lifetime start for trainer Joshua McNeil and he made a huge move on the turn before flattening out. He looks like he could give Cadilaxs a run for the money if they meet again. In the meantime, the winner has now banked almost $80,000.
On Wednesday night trainer Mike Nault turned loose DEPUTIZE, a 2-year-old Manitoba-bred monster by Speculating-River Deputy by Super Saver, to win the restricted 7 1/2 furlong $40,000 Buffalo Stakes in impressive fashion for A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds.
Making only his second lifetime start after a fourth-place debut, Deputize took advantage of a perfect duel-stalking trip from leading rider Antonio Whitehall, took over on the outside entering the stretch, and drew off to win by 9 ¼-lengths over longshot Strange Connection, who won a four-horse duel before giving way to the winner. Posh Daddy finished 3 ¼-lengths back of the duel winner in the third. The time was 1:35.80 for a 49 Beyer Figure.
Deputize was purchased out of the 2025 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale for $11,000 and he has now mowed that down with the $24,480 first-place money. He also gave jockey Antonio Whitehall a natural hat trick and one of four wins on the night, moving him into what could be an insurmountable six win lead in the jockey standings.
The gelding was bred by Julien and Stephane Fouillard and Christian Lemoine. Deputize is the first foal of River Deputy, who won 10 of 70 races.
Whitehall won the second race aboard Tap the Parlay ($2.50), also for Nault, the third race aboard Mechanic Susie ($5.10) for trainer Elton Dickey, the aforementioned fourth race aboard Deputize ($5.90) and went on to win the sixth race aboard Ario ($3.10) for trainer Mike Pierce. The four-bagger gave Whitehall 48 wins on the season and put him six in front of Kerron Khelawan (42) as we head into the final three days of the meeting.
As impressive as Whitehall was winning four races, the performance of the week belonged to his mount MECHANIC SUSIE in the third race. The 6-year-old Nonios mare looked like she was shot out of a cannon at the top of the stretch and left her rivals like they were tied to a post. And she did it in a fast time, getting the six furlongs in 1:11.71. How’s that for a champion who only recently recovered from a lung infection?
Trained by Elton Dickey, the thousand-dollar yearling has now compiled a record of 14-4-6 from 29 starts and earned over $260,000 for her ownership partners Dickey, Tom Payne, and breeder Larry Falloon
(edited by CT)
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