The Ontario Sire Heritage Series concluded last Friday at Woodbine Racetrack, with Bossy Holiday winning the colts and geldings division and $20,000 in bonus money.
A Talk Oaks Farm homebred, his performance in the first three legs had secured his position atop point standings heading into the $100,000 Lake Ontario Final over a mile and a sixteenth on the tapeta, and he proved game again in the finale.
The Josie Carroll trainee drew within a half-length entering the stretch drive before finishing a hard fought third.
“I think he was one of the only horses who ran in all four legs,” said Tall Oaks Farm Director Colleen Dalos. “We had a first, second, third, and sixth. He showed his consistency, versatility, and grit along the way.”
Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee established the Heritage Series in 2021 to provide additional racing opportunities for three-year-old Ontario Sired horses, with a male and female division.
The 2022 edition had three legs prior to the final, staged at Woodbine and Fort Erie Race Track, each worth $100,000. They were contested at five, six, and seven furlongs over the Woodbine Inner Turf, the Fort Erie dirt track, and the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
In addition to the purse money, $70,000 in bonus money was paid out to the top-three finishers in each division based on a point system, $20,000 to first, $10,000 to second, $5,000 to third.
“We were thrilled that the Heritage Series was back for another year,” said Dalos. “It’s so important that we have these type of programs that support these Ontario Sired horses and give them that opportunity to compete amongst themselves.”
The runner-up in the colts and geldings’ division was Souper Speedy colt Uncle Joe, who had a record of 0-1-2 in three Heritage Series starts. Son of Silent Name (JPN), Silent Runner rounded out the top-three, on the strength of the victory in the Lake Huron, leg one of the series over five furlongs on the grass at Woodbine.
Bossy Holiday’s success in the Heritage Series is a testament to Tall Oaks Farm’s breeding program. He is a multi-generational homebred on both his sire and dam’s side.
“It’s 30-plus years of home breeding in the making, and it’s thrilling to see this line carrying on,” said Dalos. “His sire Ami’s Holiday is a stallion of ours, who was also trained by the incredibly talented Josie Carroll, and it’s amazing to see how similar he is to his dad. His dad also ran at different distance’s and over different surfaces. They have a similar personality. It’s really special when it’s a homebred.”
The dark bay colt is the latest black type performer for Ami’s Holiday, who stands at Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge, Ont.
“Ami’s Holiday is proving himself in a very short period of time,” said Dalos. He already has stakes placed and stakes winning horses. So yes, we are seeing him prove that he can throw a really good horse.”
We may even see Tall Oaks Farm homebred to repeat in the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, as Bossy Holiday has a full-brother Boss Holiday, who broke his maiden earlier this year at Woodbine, and the breeding outfit continues to support its Ontario stallions.
“I am seeing a shift in the Ontario market, with positivity and energy,” said Dalos. “Tall Oaks has deep roots in Ontario. We have five stallions in Ontario, and we have just bought five good quality mares. We are investing in Ontario and showing confidence in the program. We are here to stay and want people to share that confidence in breeding and participating in this great industry.”
Click here to view the final colts and geldings standings for the Ontario Sire Heritage Series
Pleasure’s Gold wins the Rondeau Bay Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track on September 13, 2022. (Michael Burns)
Patience Pays off for Pleasure’s Gold
Patience is a virtue, and in the case of three-year-old filly Pleasure’s Gold, patience was a winning strategy. The daughter of Souper Speedy made only one start at two, before coming back at three to win the Ontario Sire Heritage Series.
A homebred for Gordon and Elizabeth Lickrish, Pleasure’s Gold, is out of Good as Gold the dam of the Lickrish’s highest earning horse, stakes winning mare Golden Vision.
From her May foaling at their Schomberg, Ont., farm Pleasure’s Gold was a very correct filly, and looked strong out in the field. So, when trainer Tino Attard wanted to bring her along slowly, and only give her one start during her juvenile season, Gordon was accepting of trusting the process.
“Tino is very patient with his two-year-olds,” said Lickrish. “He doesn’t rush them to the races. As an owner sometimes you get a little anxious to see your horse competing on the track, but they took her along carefully and she did quite well.”
Pleasure’s Gold wintered at the old Gardiner Farms in Caledon, Ont., and after a strong off-season started her three-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in a maiden option claimer at Woodbine, before breaking her maiden at third asking on June 12 at the Etobicoke oval.
Leg one of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series was her stakes debut, but Lickrish was confident that she would hold her own in the $100,000 Georgian Bay, and she did, finishing second in the five-furlong sprint over the Woodbine Inner Turf. Her next start out, she won the $100,000 Rondeau Bay at Fort Erie Race Track.
“Tino had a very high opinion of the horse, and he was the one that decided we would go for that series, and of course it worked out well,” said Lickrish.
Ontario Racing’s Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee established the Heritage Series in 2021 to provide additional racing opportunities for Ontario Sired horses, with a male and female division.
The 2022 edition had three legs prior to the final, staged at Woodbine and Fort Erie Race Track, each worth $100,000, and in addition to the purse money, $70,000 in bonus money was paid out to the top-three finishers in each division based on a point system, $20,000 to first, $10,000 to second, $5,000 to third.
Pleasure’s Gold improved her next time out to win the $100,000 Rondeau Bay over six furlongs on the Fort Erie main track, and her performance in the final two legs secured her the top spot in the series standings.
“She got a bit tired in the final, which was a tough day because no one was coming from off the pace that day, it was very difficult,” said Lickrish. “But she had amassed enough points to win the Series, so we were very happy.”
The Ontario Sire Heritage Series continued to grow in its second year, and Lickrish is glad for the support it proves to breeders and owners committed to the Ontario market.
“Ontario Racing is doing a really good job with putting these type of events together. It’s excellent for the owners,” said Lickrish. “And what they are doing with giving sizable cheques to the breeders through the (Breeders Awards) is an excellent help. They have done some really excellent things.”
Click here for the full Ontario Sire Heritage Series standings for three-year-old fillies.
