Dec 7, 2025 – Twentytwo Soles delivered a decisive breakthrough performance Sunday in race 3 at Woodbine, drawing off to win by nine lengths in a maiden claimer for two-year-olds at seven furlongs on the all-weather surface.
Canuck Racing Club named the horse in honour of #22 Mike Soles, a multi-award winning All-Canadian, a CFL All-Star, Grey Cup winner, and the one of Canada’s best football players who lost a heroic and inspirational battle with ALS in 2021. In his fourth career start, Twentytwo Soles channelled his namesake, shrugging off the pack and powering into the end zone.
Trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Fraser Aebly, the Ontario-bred son of Upstart overcame a step-slow beginning due to a misbehaving rival slowing the gate loading and a stumble on the break. He quickly recovered into a stalking spot outside the leader, Rafael Hernandez who had urged Baytown Glinda to the front.
Aebly had Twentytwo Soles travelling comfortably just to the outside through an opening quarter in 23.17 and a half in 46.76. Just prior to the bend at the five sixteenths pole, the duo moved in, shifted outside, and took control before the turn.
Rounding the bend, the field appeared to be gathering to challenge when Twentytwo Soles shot away from his pursuers. Despite a comfortable margin, Aebly didn’t let up and the colt continued to widen the gap with authority through the stretch – proving very much the best as he extended his lead to nine lengths by the wire. Sanhedrin finished second, with Clear Position third.
Sent off the 1.10-1 favourite, Twentytwo Soles stopped the clock in 1:25.25 and left little doubt about the outcome.
The result mattered not only because it produced a maiden victory, but because it showed a more complete performance. Twentytwo Soles entered the race with class relief, a cutback in distance, and blinkers removed, and all three factors appeared to help. More importantly, he handled adversity at the break, settled properly, responded when asked, and continued to extend through the lane rather than losing focus late.
“When you drop a horse to give them class relief, the hope is to win but also win a fashion that shows you progress and potential,” trainer Kevin Attard said after the contest. “Twentytwo Soles did that today.”
For Canuck Racing Club, the performance offered a clearer indication that Twentytwo Soles may be starting to put things together. The strongest impression came from the way he took over and kept widening, looking every bit to be moving in the right direction.