She still has the note she penned to herself on that day.
“That’s what I wanted the second I held my trainer’s license in my hand for the first time. I wrote a note to myself saying that I have to go up. I don’t want to stay steady. I want to go places. So, with my goals, I thought that I would start things with winning an Ontario-sired stakes race. I worked hard for that dream. I bought a nice horse for $4,000, and she won by nine lengths for me last year. I knew that I had a nice horse, but I felt that I had to spend time with her, to be patient and give her everything that she needed. She had a good two-year-old season, but when she turned three, everything just came together for her. I had seven people call me after she won that race so easily, and I said no to everyone. I looked at her and I knew that this was my chance.”
A chance she never considered not taking. Just as she did when she made her way to the Woodbine backstretch over 20 years ago.
In 1998, Krasauskaite, along with her family, came to Canada, specifically Etobicoke, Ontario, not far from Woodbine. The young girl who had developed an affinity for horses in her native Lithuania, studying them, riding them and doing some jumping, eventually headed to Woodbine hoping to land a job.
Recollections are many, including the first day she traversed through the expansive Toronto oval backstretch.
“I do remember the first day I went there,” she said with a laugh. “No English. All I knew was, ‘Hi, bye, and thank you.’”
Her command of the English language and love of Thoroughbreds grew exponentially.
She was an exercise rider for 20 years for a few trainers, including John McKenzie, and bought her first horse, Sweet Shobiz, for $500. The daughter of Nobiz Like Shobiz finished second for Krasauskaite, which led her to buy a yearling, Vision of Future, in 2016, who would provide her first win as an owner.
Silent Causeway, however, is undoubtedly the star of her barn.
“I bought her blind. I really liked the bloodlines in the catalogue. The mare didn’t race, but I really liked Silent Name, so I decided I’d take a chance.”
A low-risk gamble that has paid off handsomely. In 15 career starts, Silent Causeway is 3-5-1, with earnings in excess of $175,000 (CDN).
A horse, just like her trainer, who embodies the spirit of the jockey silks that accompany her every time she races.
The colours, turquoise and white, are partnered with a warrior astride a horse with a sword held aloft.
“I like turquoise and white because it reminds me of an ocean. When you want to get away and be by the ocean, you see that white sand and blue, blue water that gives you that feeling of calm.”
The image emblazoned on the silks is an homage to her native land.
“The warrior on the horse, with the sword in the air, that’s my heritage. That’s my people. It is a symbol of strength. We are very stubborn people from Lithuania, and we don’t stop working until we achieve what our dreams are. Every time I look at that symbol, it keeps me going.”
Justin Stein as he captures the La Prevoyante Stakes aboard Silent Causeway at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
And make no mistake, Krasauskaite is just getting started.
Less than 24 hours after the big win, there were moments, even if it was a brief thought, of loftier goals to consider.
There was also a glass, or perhaps two, of celebratory bubbly.
“The first thing I did after the race was call my girlfriends and tell them it was champagne night at my place. So, they all showed up and we had a great night. I called my parents too. My dad screamed very loudly and my mom started crying. It’s a great moment, not just for me and for my horse, but for all the people who have supported me, including the people of Nobleton, where I live.
“But now, I’m finally down from cloud nine, and I will turn my focus to next year. We have two months to rest, but there is still a lot of planning. I have two broodmares that I’m planning on breeding and bumping up my bloodlines. Hopefully, we have some babies that can grow up to be stakes winners at Woodbine. One of them, Tell the Duchess, had one of her offspring, Duke of Love, win first-time out for [trainer] Josie Carroll. Hopefully, she can produce many more of those in my stable.”
There are other dreams Krasauskaite will continue to chase, including one of the sport’s most high-profile gathering of racing’s biggest stars.
“My biggest goal is to have a horse in the Breeders’ Cup. I don’t care if it takes me two years, three years, four years, five years, maybe even 10 years. I will be there one day. It’s my goal and it’s my dream. I’m not going to stop until I find that horse who will take me there. I don’t want to spin left on the same circle. I want to go outside of that circle, to make Canadians proud, to make Woodbine people proud, to make my family and friends proud.”
The journey to where she finds herself now hasn’t been without its hurdles. Yet, even in the lowest of times, Krasauskaite refused to throw in the towel.
“My friend told me, ‘Don’t quit.’ I told her not to worry about that. I’m too stubborn to quit. I will never quit until I achieve what I want. It’s in my blood.”
Just like the determined warrior symbolized on her eye-catching racing silks.
“I’ll say, like Snoop Dogg said, ‘I’m proud of me.’ I’m proud of me for not quitting. I went through bad days, stressful days, no money days and I’m proud of me for not stopping, not giving up and thinking positively. I didn’t stop and I never will.”
