The smile on trainer Lise Pruitt’s face always tells the whole story, and it’s a genuine one. She absolutely loves what she does.
Pruitt is now in her fourth year of training for Arnason Farms, True North Thoroughbreds and their additional partners. She was glowing on Thursday morning in the barn as she tended to her 21 horses, and it wasn’t because of the cold. Stable star Melisandre was nearby, and that Manitoba-bred champion would warm any trainer’s heart.
Pruitt was excited about her returning three-year-olds this year, many of whom went through a solid development phase as 2-year-olds. She’s hoping some of her sophomores, like Kontie, Yellow Birdie, and another three-year-old out of champion mare Tadaa, can take a step forward this year. Until then, Melisandre remains the leader of the pack.
While she didn’t win any stakes races outside of Melisandre’s victories in 2023, Pruitt seemed pleased with her overall performance, compiling a record of 16-13-10 from 86 starts for purse earnings of $216,526 and winning at an excellent 29% clip.
It was the third year in a row Pruitt had gone over the $200,000 mark in purses and she has also held her own in the Manitoba Strong program, which recognizes conditioners who do well with Manitoba-breds.
While things are going well on the track, Pruitt also has an exciting situation developing at the farm with Arnason’s broodmare band. “Escape Clause’s full-sister had a foal the other day, and we also had a maiden mare have a foal. So we’ve got two foals on the ground, and three more mares to foal out.”
With a nice mix of seasoned racehorses and talented young prospects, along with some up-and-coming youngsters, Pruitt seems poised for another successful year and more to follow. But it’s clear her main focus will be getting her stable star Melisandre prepared to take on the best of her division.
Owned by True North Thoroughbreds and Arnason Farms and bred by Cam Ziprick, Charles Fouillard and Barry Arnason, the Manitoba-bred multiple-champion by Going Commando-High Pioneer by Pioneering has compiled a lifetime record of 10-5-1 from 20 starts for earnings of $172,228.
In 2023, as a five-year-old, Melisandre ran one of the best races of her life to win the Cool Excellence Overnight Stakes and followed up later in the season with a win in the Distaff Stakes.
“One of my favourite things with her is when we’re walking around the paddock before a race and she stops in the same place on the corner to look at the winner’s circle,” said Pruitt. “Everyone just stops behind her and waits.” They know.
Melisandre does, too.
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