THE 2015 ALBERTA BREEDERS' FALL CLASSIC

Northlands Park - September 19th

The 2015 Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic took place on a beautiful fall weekend at Northlands Park with the marketplace weekend and the Thoroughbred races on the 19th.

The Alberta Marketplace was open all day on Saturday with a variety of vendors and organizations selling Alberta based products. This marketplace offered a unique opportunity for people to enjoy the wide range of wonderful products that are created in our province. Once again the "Made In Alberta" Marketplace was on the second floor and featured return vendors Parkland Potters' Guild, Vintage Illusions and Can Praxis along with new vendors; Fruits of Sherbrooke, Keri Dawn Studios, Art Dog Studio and The Dress Maker.

The Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic races took place on Saturday under sunny skies on a warm Alberta fall day. This celebration of Alberta thoroughbred racing showcased the best Alberta breds competing for $350,000 over seven stakes races. It pays to own an Alberta bred over the racing season in this province. Throughout the race meet in 2015, Alberta bred race horse owners were able to earn up to 37% more through bonus money paid out through the breeding support section of the Alberta Breed Improvement Program.

The 2015 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale was held on Sunday and began with the annual Sales Breakfast at 10:00 a.m. in the EXPO Centre. After breakfast, a tour took place through Hall A to preview the fabulous Thoroughbreds available at the Sale which began at 1:00 p.m. This sale offered buyers an exciting opportunity to choose their own potential stakes winning horse! $95,000 was paid for Hip 85 at the sale, a figure not seen at the CTHS Alberta sale since the first ever $100,000 purchase in western Canada in 1979 when $108,000 was paid for a filly by Buckpasser out of Cabala II. The $95,000 purchase this year was for a gelding by Exhi out of Fabulous Brush consigned by Highfield Investment Group and purchased by Riversedge Racing Stable. Full results of the CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale may be viewed in the Sales Results section of this issue.

Alberta Breeders Fall Classic Race Review

The race day started off with the 20^th running of the $50,000 Red Diamond Express for Three Year Olds and Up with five horses on the card. This race was sponsored by Red Diamond Stables with presentations by Don and Sue Danard. Six year old KILOHANA was the winner adding his first stakes victory to a lengthy race career. 2014 Champion Alberta Sprinter and Alberta bred TINY GIANT took second place with 2009 sales graduate BOND JAMES BOND finishing in third spot. Kilohana is by Deal Breaker out of Sundown Meg by Dr. Reality and was bred by Kerredge Farm and Dan Galbraith. Kilohana brought his earnings to $104,625 for owner Eagle Rock Racing Stable.

The second stakes race was the 20^th running of the $50,000 Fall Classic Distaff for Three Year Old and Up Fillies and Mares. The Distaff was sponsored by Highfield Investment Group with presentations by Adrian Munro. BRADY’S TOMBOY battled it out for the victory over second place finisher SMILE AGAIN THETA and FORDY EIGHT CUSH. Multiple stakes winner Brady’s Tomboy is now the three time winner of the Fall Classic Distaff. With this win, she brought her career earnings to $214,431 for owners M & P Equipment Inc. Met Set Consulting and Dale Saunders. The seven year old mare was sired by Crafty Shaw out of Galaxie Gem out of Theatrical (IRE) and bred by Rhontod Farm.

The 37^th running of the $50,000 Alberta Oaks followed on the race card for Three Year Old Fillies sponsored by True North Holdings Inc. and presented by Keith Johns. A field of nine horses made for an exciting race with BLAMEITONTHEKNIGHT taking a solid win over second place finisher WILD DEUCES and third place ALMOST NINETY. The Alberta Oaks was the first stakes win for 2013 CTHS Alberta sale graduate Blameitontheknight and brings her career earnings to $54,895. This filly was bred by Don Gibb and consigned to the sale in 2013 where she was purchased by Riversedge Racing Stable. She was claimed this past June by Dale Saunders, M & P Equipment Inc. and Met Set Consulting Ltd.   

The next stakes race on the Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic day was the 34^th running of the $50,000 Sturgeon River Stakes for Two Year Old Fillies. This stakes was sponsored by Adena Springs North and presented by Cal Britton. ONESTARATATIME had an impressive win over second place finisher LEENA and third placed HAYTHORNE PLACE. This is the first stakes win for Onestaratatime who has finished in the top three in all four of her career starts. This filly is by Cape Canaveral out of Renaissance Woman by Deputy Minister and was consigned to the 2014 sale by Highfield Investment Group. Onestaratatime was one of the top selling fillies in the sale and was purchased by current owners Curtis and Darrell Landry, Red Diamond Stable and Highfield Investment Group. This win brings her earnings to $36,249 in her first year of racing. 

The 18^th Running of the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap for Three Year Old and Up was next to go. This stake race was sponsored by new supporter this year, Furlongs Inc. and Valiant Ranches Ltd. and presented by Elaine Macpherson and Harvey Trimble. WILD LEGEND dueled it out with 2013 Alberta Champion FOR CASH to edge clear and take the win in the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap. WILD CRUSH, a half sibling to Wild Legend and past two time winner of this same stakes race, finished in third place. Wild Legend is a four year old son of Gold Legend out of the successful Alberta race mare and dam, Wild Creek by Chapel Creek. Sadly, there will be no more stakes horses produced from the ‘Wild’ line as this influential dam passed away this spring at the age of twenty one. Wild Legend brought his career earnings to $143,932 with this win for owner Barb Saunders.

TIMELESS TALES won the 33^rd running of the $50,000 Beaufort Stakes for three year olds. This Gilded Time gelding persevered to finish just ahead of second placed runner WATER WAGON and third finisher CENTREFIRE. Timeless Tales was bred by Bar None Ranches out of the multiple stakes placed Bar None mare Lalou by Crafty Prospector. This is the first stakes win for Timeless Tales in his second year of running and now his career earnings are at $37,664 for owners Wilde Racing, Amber Buniak and Ryan McLean.

The last race of the day was the 36^th running of the $50,000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity for two year olds. This race is sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta and was presented by Shirley McClellan. VICTORY DAY held off the challengers and won the race ahead of second place finisher GO WILD and third place RIPPLE. 2014 CTHS Sale graduate Victory Day was bred by Highfield Investment Group and sired by Exhi out of the successful Highfield mare Lemon Drop Martini. Victory Day is from the first Exhi crop as this sire’s first foals are only yearlings of 2014. Lemon Drop Martini also produced the successful Alberta runner Lemon Pepper who earned $129,805 in her race career. Victory Day is owned by Riversedge Racing Stable.

THE ALBERTA PREMIER'S FUTURITY

36th Running

6 furlongs

Two Year Old Alberta Breds

Track Record: Hemlock Channel

1:15.38 - May 31st, 2017

WINNER: VICTORY DAY

Breeder: Highfield SF Ltd.

Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.

Trainer: Tim Rycroft

Jockey: Rico Walcott

THE BEAUFORT STAKES

33rd Running

One and one sixteenth miles

Three Year Old Alberta Breds

Track Record: Chilcoton Blaze

1:42.60 - August  4th, 1984

WINNER: TIMELESS TALES

Breeder: Bar None Ranches Ltd.

Owner: Wilde Racing, Amber Buniak and Ryan McLean

Trainer: Ryan McLean

Jockey: Ismael Mosqueira

THE ALBERTA OAKS

37th Running

One and one sixteenth miles

Three Year Old Alberta Bred Fillies

Track Record: Bagful

1:35.80 - May 16th, 1981

WINNER: BLAMEITONTHEKNIGHT

Breeder: Don R. Gibb

Owner: Dale Saunders, M & P Equipment Inc., & Met Set Consulting Ltd.

Trainer: Dale Saunders

Jockey: Shannon Beauregard

RED DIAMOND EXPRESS HANDICAP

20th Running

6 and one half furlongs

Three Year Old and Upwards

Track Record: Hemlock Channel

1:15.38 -  May 31st, 2017

WINNER: DUNE D' ORO

Breeder: Kerredge Farm & Dan Galbraith

Owner: Eagle Rock Racing Stable

Trainer: Jerri Robertson

Jockey: Shannon Beauregard

THE STURGEON RIVER STAKES

34th Running

6 furlongs

Two Year Old Alberta Bred Fillies

Track Record: Hemlock Channel

1:15.38 - May 31st, 2017

WINNER: ONESTARATATIME

Breeder: Highfield Stock Farm Inc.

Owner: C. Landry, D. Landry, Red Diamond Stable and Highfield Stock Farm Ltd.

Trainer: Greg Tracy

Jockey: Rico Walcott