Nov 18, 2024 (Canadian Thoroughbred) – The lucrative ONTARIO SIRED HERITAGE SERIES, a four-race competition at Woodbine and Fort Erie, wrapped up on November 17 at Woodbine with the two route stakes events. The Ashbridges Bay, for three-year-old Ontario-sired fillies at 1 1/16 miles, featured a wild finish as five fillies were separated by less a length and it was the Danish Dynaformer gal WAR PAINTER who surged to a head win at 4-to-1, upsetting heavily-favoured Hurricane Clair (Silent Name (Jpn)).
War Painter, second by points in the series and tied with Olivia Rose, won the second stakes of her career and first this year. Bred by Chares Fipke, owned by the Canuck Racing Club and trained by Kevin Attard, she had Fraser Aebly aboard for the first time and had a late spurt to grab the win in the final strides. The time was 1:44.93.
The Ashbridges Bay was the 10th stakes win at Woodbine this year for the Kevin Attard barn. The Canuck Racing Club was formed by Donato Lanni in 2022 with mostly newcomers to horse ownership. War Painter was one of the first horses the group purchased for $30,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale in 2022.
“It won’t be our last stakes win,” said Halloran, noting stable stars Dewolf and Brengungirl are coming up to big events. “But we are just humbled to be here. She was one of our first horses and it is very meaningful for the group and there are a bunch of us here today.”
Danish Dynaformer has been popular in his first few years at stud. He stands at Joe Humber’s Humber Stables and is currently the third leading third-crop sire in Canada.