Horse Racing

The ‘Queen,’ ‘Kings’ and ‘Prince’ rule the Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:14 PM CDT

The “Queen” is back, the “Kings” aren’t far behind, and the “Prince” is running away with the Gold.

The “Queen,” Burrow Down found her best form again in the $50,000 Manitoba Matron on Tuesday night at the Assiniboia Downs. Three races later, the “Kings” — five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau and seven-time leading owner Henry S. Witt Jr. — won the $50,000 Gold Cup. And for the first time in at least 40 years — if ever — jockey Damario Bynoe, the “Prince,” racked up a rare triple-triple, scoring hat tricks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that included a long, determined rally aboard the “Queen” to win the Matron.

Burrow Down earned her royalty status locally from a record of 11-1-2 in 16 starts, all stakes, and the six-year-old mare has now won the Manitoba Matron for the third consecutive year. In her four starts this year for trainer Mike Taphorn, she’d finished second in the La Verendrye Stakes, won the Canada Stakes, finished third in the Escape Clause Stakes, and run an uncharacteristically dull fourth in the Miss Imperial Overnight Stakes in her start previous to the Matron.

“We didn’t do anything different with her for the Matron,” said Taphorn, who conditions the horse for owner Gerald Babchishin. “ The only thing we did was make a rider switch.”

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Susie does her duty at Downs

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Susie does her duty at Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

Manitoba-bred stars highlighted two of the three stakes this week at Assiniboia Downs, and a bargain invader from south of the border took the other.

The winners of all three stakes were so good it’s difficult to decide who to mention first, so we’ll go with ladies first.

Mechanic Susie won the $40,000 Distaff Stakes on Tuesday for trainer Elton Dickey, his ownership partners Tom Payne and breeder Larry Falloon, and groom Kenroy (Cuba) Rowe, and she was doing it for the second year in a row.

Last year, the five-year-old Manitoba-bred mare by Nonios out of Quantum Mechanics by Einstein won six races in a row, including the Distaff, on her way to being named champion older mare. Ahe looks like she’s going to do similar this year.

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Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo

Groom Kenroy “Cuba” Rowe and jockey Antonio Whitehall with Mechanic Susie after their win in the Distaff Stakes.

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo
                                Groom Kenroy “Cuba” Rowe and jockey Antonio Whitehall with Mechanic Susie after their win in the Distaff Stakes.

It’s been quite the ride for horse-loving Waywayseecappo chief

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It’s been quite the ride for horse-loving Waywayseecappo chief

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 5, 2025

Six decades ago Murray Clearsky ran away from a residential school in Brandon, not knowing where his life would take him.

On Thursday night at Assiniboia Downs, he was honoured by Indigenous leaders from across the country for his lifetime of accomplishments, including the past 40 years as chief of Waywayseecappo First Nation.

It’s been quite a ride, and always connected to horses.

Indigenous leaders and dignitaries at the ceremony included Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Peguis First Nation Chief Dr. Stan Bird, Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, AFN Regional Chief Willie Moore, Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky, Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean, and Allen Sutherland, elder and knowledge keeper, who delivered the opening prayer.

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Friday, Sep. 5, 2025

George Williams / Free Press

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, right, with Chief Murray Clearsky of Waywayseecappo First Nation.

George Williams / Free Press
                                Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, right, with Chief Murray Clearsky of Waywayseecappo First Nation.

Gourneau gunning for next title

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Gourneau gunning for next title

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

Five-time leading ASD trainer Jerry Gourneau rocketed up in the standings this week with six wins, including two overnight stakes, and he’s showing no signs of stopping with a four-person crew and 20 horses to back him up.

Gourneau returned to the fray from Texas in June and quickly won with Fast Traffic on June 23. And despite being late to the local party this year, he might actually have a shot of catching current leading trainer Steve Keplin Jr. to win his sixth title.

Keplin currently has 32 wins while Gourneau has 20, but six-win weeks can close that gap in a hurry. Much of Gourneau’s younger help returned to school this week, but his two assistant trainers, Jennifer Tourangeau and Madison Tirk, along with groom/owner Manny Medeiros, still managed to get the winner’s circle in a big way.

Two of Gourneau’s six wins came in overnight stakes on Tuesday. He won the Miss Imperial Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares with Baby Gundin ($13.60) and followed that up in the next race with a victory in the Already Dia Overnight Stakes with Malibu S S ($7.20).

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Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

Jason Halstead /ASSINIBOIA DOWNS

Trainer Jerry Gourneau had six wins this week at Assiniboia Downs, including two overnight stakes.

Jason Halstead /ASSINIBOIA DOWNS
                                Trainer Jerry Gourneau had six wins this week at Assiniboia Downs, including two overnight stakes.

A yearling sale like no other

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A yearling sale like no other

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 22, 2025

The big money will be looking at one horse in particular in the annual Manitoba’s CTHS Yearling Sale this Sunday at Assiniboia Downs, but there could be a diamond in the rough anywhere in this sale, which is packed with quality and more horses than usual this year.

Hip #32, a bay gelding by Speculating out of multiple Manitoba champion and Horse of the Year Hidden Grace, consigned by Ziprick Thoroughbreds, is expected to be the sales topper on Sunday, but you never know what can happen once the action starts.

The sale takes place in a different location this year, at the new CTHS Sale Pavilion in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch, and the first yearling goes through the ring at 2:30 p.m. Viewing of the yearlings began at noon Friday and there will be numerous others who attract attention.

“We’ve got 41 hips in the sale, 13 more than last year,” said CTHS Director Wayne King, who serves as chair of the yearling sale. The increase in the number of yearlings offered is directly tied to an innovative breeding incentive program created in partnership with the Manitoba Jockey Club. “This is the first crop that would have been subscribed to that program,” said King.

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Friday, Aug. 22, 2025

George Williams photo

Breeder Cam Ziprick with Hip #32 for Sunday’s Manitoba Yearling Sale, a bay gelding by Speculating out of multiple champion mare and Manitoba Horse of the Year Hidden Grace.

George Williams photo 
                                Breeder Cam Ziprick with Hip #32 for Sunday’s Manitoba Yearling Sale, a bay gelding by Speculating out of multiple champion mare and Manitoba Horse of the Year Hidden Grace.

Patterson turning heads at the Downs

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Patterson turning heads at the Downs

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

If there’s one way to make money at the track, it’s spotting a hot, talented jockey before anyone else does. We just found one.

Javaniel Patterson returned from a shoulder injury on Aug. 5 and promptly won with his first mount back, Captive Kitten, who paid $32.60 for trainer Victoria Morse on the final race on the card. The $1 Pick 4 paid $22,913.95. Why? Partially because most bettors don’t play jockeys they don’t know or see in the standings.

The 32-year-old Patterson arrived here from Jamaica last year and won 13 races, not quite enough to crack the top 10 in the jockey standings. He returned early this year but suffered a broken shoulder in a training injury and couldn’t get cleared to ride again until Aug. 5, which just happened to be the same day leading rider Prayven Badrie was knocked out for the season with a hip injury.

Before Patterson rode Captive Kitten through a free-square hole on the rail to win, there were already whispers in the backstretch to the effect that “this kid can ride.” Those whispers gained more traction when Patterson won with three of his next 12 mounts, but his performance on one particular winner caused expert race watchers to pay attention.

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Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo

Designated Hitter and jockey Javaniel Patterson (inside) hold off Totalizer and jockey Rachaad Knights to win the third race Wednesday at ASD.

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo
                                Designated Hitter and jockey Javaniel Patterson (inside) hold off Totalizer and jockey Rachaad Knights to win the third race Wednesday at ASD.

A week to remember at the Downs

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A week to remember at the Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

Whew! What a week at the Downs!

On Monday, there was the disqualification of unofficial winner Take Charge Tom in the Manitoba Derby. On Tuesday, three-year-old filly Welcometohollywood recorded the largest winning margin in North America for the day. On Wednesday, the same horse that capped off a $6,237.70 Pick 4 in 2024, Captive Kitten, did it again, this time to the tune $22,913.95, and he did it on Girls Night Out to a backdrop of fancy hats, classy outfits and winning smiles.

It was the exact opposite of smiles in the camp of trainer Robertino Diodoro after the 77th running of the Manitoba Derby however, when his horse, heavy favourite Take Charge Tom, became the first competitor in the history of the race to be disqualified from the win spot, but the official Stewards really had no choice.

Before the horses had even gone a quarter mile in the 1 1/8-mile race the “inquiry” sign was posted on the board, meaning something in the early running of the race needed a closer look by the Stewards. Immediately after the race, jockey Brian Boodramsingh aboard No. 1 Border Song lodged a claim of foul against the riders of No. 3 Mr. Jaws and No. 4 Attack.

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Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo

N’Rico Prescod (left) rode Attack to victory in a very eventful Manitoba Derby on Monday at Assiniboia Downs.

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo
                                N’Rico Prescod (left) rode Attack to victory in a very eventful Manitoba Derby on Monday at Assiniboia Downs.

Take Tom Charge the horse to beat

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Take Tom Charge the horse to beat

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

The 77th running of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby highlights the biggest race night of the year on Monday, Aug. 4 at Assiniboia Downs. If current live crowds are any indication, this will be a grand night for horse hawks and people watchers.

The fans have been coming out in droves in July and the parking lot looks like a throwback to the ’70s, or the ’60s. If you were one of the kids running around picking up tickets off the tarmac in those decades, you’ll know what we’re talking about. I know I was.

The crowds have been loud too, but nothing like they’ll be on Monday night when the races kick off at 7:30 p.m. for a stellar card of seven races, bolstered by three stakes featuring the best horses on the grounds.

The $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes for fillies and mares goes as the fourth race and is led by star filly Burrow Down, the reigning queen of the female set, who is 10-for-13 at the Downs. The $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile goes as the wide-open fifth race with 10 rivals trying to beat favourite Judo, who has won five in a row for leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr.

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Friday, Aug. 1, 2025

JASON HALSTEAD / ASSINIBOIA PHOTO

Rasheed Hughes rides Manitoba Derby favourite Take Charge Tom (3) to victory in the 31st running of the Derby Trial Stakes.

JASON HALSTEAD / ASSINIBOIA PHOTO
                                Rasheed Hughes rides Manitoba Derby favourite Take Charge Tom (3) to victory in the 31st running of the Derby Trial Stakes.

Twolefttoload turns heads with R.C. Anderson Stakes triumph

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Twolefttoload turns heads with R.C. Anderson Stakes triumph

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Jul. 25, 2025

Like a runaway freight train, there was no stopping Twolefttoload once she got rolling in the $40,000 R.C. Anderson Stakes on Tuesday night at Assiniboia Downs. At least not until she hit the wire.

After that, she coasted to a stop, turned, and trotted proudly back to the winner’s circle to meet her injured but beaming groom Brittany Bergen and trainer Mike Nault.

“I was leading our other filly in the race, frankly, to the paddock, and I tripped and she stepped on me with her hind foot,” said Bergen, pointing out a bruise on her lower calf that looked like a hammer hit. “She just stepped on me and stood there. But Twolefttoload won, so I didn’t feel a thing after that.”

Bergen was glowing as Twolefttoload strutted into the winner’s circle like she owned the place. “She’s goofy, she’s quirky, and she’s always on edge around the barn,” said Bergen. “But in the paddock and the race, she puts her game face on. She knows when it’s time to go to work.”

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Friday, Jul. 25, 2025

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo

Mike Nault’s assistant trainer/groom Brittany Bergen had a reason to smile after winning the R.C. Anderson Stakes with Twolefttoload.

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo
                                Mike Nault’s assistant trainer/groom Brittany Bergen had a reason to smile after winning the R.C. Anderson Stakes with Twolefttoload.

Biggest upset brings huge payoff at Assiniboia Downs

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Biggest upset brings huge payoff at Assiniboia Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jul. 18, 2025

Trainer Bill Mooney did his impression of the movie “50 to 1” on Wednesday night at Assiniboia Downs, bum leg included, blowing up the tote board with a $104.10 winner that also led to a massive $1 Pick 4 payoff of $27,239.05.

And he knew she was going to win.

The 75-year-old trainer from Montana teamed up with jockey Dario Dalrymple and fellow trainer Curtis Maxwell to pull off the biggest upset of the meeting in the fifth race on Wednesday evening with the 6-year-old mare Ropers N Wranglers. Everyone in the barn bet on her — except Maxwell, who got distracted at the grandstand and forgot to.

“I was talking to someone, I looked up and they were already in the gate,” said Maxwell, who was paddocking the horse for Mooney partly because Mooney had injured his leg in a stall when a horse ran into him. “The race started and it was too late.”

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Friday, Jul. 18, 2025

GEORGE WILLIAMS

The 50-1 Crew (from left): trainer Bill Mooney, jockey Dario Dalrymple and trainer Curtis Maxwell.

GEORGE WILLIAMS
                                The 50-1 Crew (from left): trainer Bill Mooney, jockey Dario Dalrymple and trainer Curtis Maxwell.

Success a family affair in more ways than one at Assiniboia Downs

George Williams 6 minute read Preview

Success a family affair in more ways than one at Assiniboia Downs

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Jul. 11, 2025

Nikkitysplit won the 18th running of the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes on Tuesday, and she wasn’t the only example — horse or human — that showed what the right genetics, a good upbringing and a loving environment can do at the track this week.

The three-year-old filly gave Ziprick Thoroughbreds’ sire Speculating his first stakes winner in the Hazel Wright, and also helped them to a clean sweep of the first three spots in the Hazel Wright in the breeding department. Second-place finisher Twoleftoload was also sired by Speculating, and third-place finisher Amplify is by the Ziprick Thoroughbreds stallion Kentucky Bear.

Ziprick Thoroughbreds has been the dominant breeder in Manitoba for well over a decade, so the positive environment and good upbringing were a given. From a pedigree perspective, Speculating has all the credentials to be a top sire, being by Medaglia d’Oro, whose 184 stakes winners have earned over $209 million.

Bred by longtime Manitoba owner-breeders Jerry Lambert and Lynn Mathews, Nikkitysplit is out of their mare Spiteofsuccess, which makes her a half-sister to the stakes-placed runner J L Copper, and the stakes winners in the family extend back through three generations.

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Friday, Jul. 11, 2025

George Williams / Free Press

Groom Kayla Matyas has a special bond with ‘princess’ Nikkitysplit, winner of Tuesday’s Hazel Wright Sire Stakes.

George Williams / Free Press
                                Groom Kayla Matyas has a special bond with ‘princess’ Nikkitysplit, winner of Tuesday’s Hazel Wright Sire Stakes.

Downs jockey on a heater, winning five races in two nights

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Downs jockey on a heater, winning five races in two nights

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

Lightning almost struck twice at Assiniboia Downs this week. It missed both times.

A barrage of bolts struck the area surrounding the Downs on Canada Day evening, forcing the cancellation of the remaining races with one of the largest crowds ever in the stands, but most of those in attendance braved the rain for a fabulous fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.

Jockey Antonio Whitehall prevented the second lightning strike of the week in the final race Wednesday when he won with favourite Big Ticket for trainer Will Tourangeau, wearing down 69-1 second-place finisher Really Slow and jockey Neville Stephenson in a long drive to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

The $1 Pick 4 paid $956.90 from a Pick 4 wagering pool of $163,626 and made a lot of bettors happy, except the one holding the lone live ticket on Really Slow, which would have exploded the tote board with a payoff of over $100,000. How’d you like to be holding that ticket for the length of the stretch?

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Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

George Williams / Free Press

Jockeys Antonio Whitehall (right) and Damrio Bynoe work a pair of two-year-olds for trainer Mike Nault at the Downs on Friday morning.

George Williams / Free Press
                                Jockeys Antonio Whitehall (right) and Damrio Bynoe work a pair of two-year-olds for trainer Mike Nault at the Downs on Friday morning.

Keplin-Arnason partnership riding the wave of success

George Williams 6 minute read Preview

Keplin-Arnason partnership riding the wave of success

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

The mood was jovial Friday morning at trainer Steve Keplin, Jr.’s barn, and for good reason. The 32-year-old Turtle Mountain Chippewa from Belcourt, N.D., won three of the four $50,000 stakes carded at Assiniboia Downs this week and opened a commanding lead in the trainer standings.

His horses had to survive three foul claims to do it.

Keplin won the $50,000 Free Press Stakes for older horses on Tuesday with Judo for owner James Parisien and followed up Wednesday with wins by Ginas Serenade in the Chantilly Stakes for three-year-old fillies for owner Arnason Farms, and the La Verendrye Stakes for older fillies and mares with Sophia’s Storm for ownership partners Arnason Farms, Parker Wallette and James Keplin.

The Stewards’ decisions went their way in all cases, and now Keplin sits atop the trainer standings with a 17-8 lead over his nearest competitors, winning at an exceptional 41 pre cent clip.

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Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

George Williams / Winnipeg Free Press

Tuesday’s Free Press Stakes winner, Judo, with James Keplin, assistant trainer for Steve Keplin, Jr.

George Williams / Winnipeg Free Press
                                Tuesday’s Free Press Stakes winner, Judo, with James Keplin, assistant trainer for Steve Keplin, Jr.

Leading rider Bynoe sees importance of morning work with racehorses

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Leading rider Bynoe sees importance of morning work with racehorses

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 20, 2025

We have a new leading rider at Assiniboia Downs, and this could be his year.

Damario Bynoe won a slugfest with two-time leading rider Prayven Badrie this week, booting home four winners on Wednesday and another the day before, to count 15 victories on the season — one more than Badrie.

The 33-year-old from Barbados had to be good, as arch-rival Badrie scored a four-bagger on Tuesday to open up in the standings. But Badrie’s lead didn’t last long, and Bynoe wasn’t winning with all favourites either.

He won the second race on Tuesday aboard Casually Classy ($11.30) for trainer Lise Pruitt and rolled hot into Wednesday, scoring a hat trick for trainer Mike Nault: aboard Load Abroad ($2.30) in the second race, Red Road Runner ($7.30) in the fourth and Twoleftoload ($5.00) in the fifth. He then followed up with a win aboard Diamond Concerto ($24.90) for trainer Wendy Anderson in the sixth race and capped off the card with a second-place finish in the last race aboard Designated Hitter at 13-1 for trainer Carl Anderson.

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Friday, Jun. 20, 2025

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS

Jockey Damario Bynoe was the leading rider this week at Assiniboia Downs, winning five races. He’s set to ride JJ’s American Diva (left) in a Monday race.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
                                Jockey Damario Bynoe was the leading rider this week at Assiniboia Downs, winning five races. He’s set to ride JJ’s American Diva (left) in a Monday race.

Kentucky Derby, Belmont winner’s trainer has ties to Keystone province

George Williams 7 minute read Preview

Kentucky Derby, Belmont winner’s trainer has ties to Keystone province

George Williams 7 minute read Friday, Jun. 13, 2025

It’s a long and winding road from St. Laurent, Man., to the Kentucky Derby, but Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott found the way.

When Sovereignty came powering down the stretch to win the 151st Kentucky Derby five weeks ago for Mott, it marked the third time in four years that Manitoba had a strong connection to the Run for the Roses.

In 2022, 80-1 shot Rich Strike became the first horse in history out of a Manitoba-bred mare to win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike was out of Gold Strike, who was bred by Winnipegger Dick Bonnycastle of Harlequin Romance fame. In 2023, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan was sired by Goldencents, who is out of a Manitoba-bred named Golden Works, a two-time winner at Assiniboia Downs bred by Phil Kives.

Now, we’ve got 71-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who stomped the terra in St. Laurent, during his formative years with horses, as the conditioner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner.

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Friday, Jun. 13, 2025

JEFF ROBERSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Sovereignty crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby early in May this year.

JEFF ROBERSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
                                Sovereignty crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby early in May this year.

Longshot runs away with first stakes race of Assiniboia Downs season

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Longshot runs away with first stakes race of Assiniboia Downs season

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 6, 2025

Former horse trainer John Mulligan said it looked like a scene from the movie 50-1, a film based on the true story of longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and his happy-go-lucky group of crazy cowboy owners who beat the bluebloods at their own game in 2009.

This wasn’t Kentucky and groom-owner-trainers Dewey Williams and Eugene Burns weren’t quite in the Derby. Yet. This was Tuesday night racing at Assiniboia Downs. “They just looked like a couple of good ole boys, happier than ever, walking into the winner’s circle,” said Mulligan. “It was a scene right out of that movie.”

With a smile from ear to ear and a jovial laugh, the big orange-haired Burns led slick three-year-old colt Just Trust Me and jockey Antonio Whitehall into the winner’s circle to meet trainer Williams after winning the first stakes race of the local season. Their $3,500 purchase had just won the $24,000 Fancy As Overnight Stakes, but it might as well have been the Kentucky Derby based on the happiness meter.

Not only did the Williams-Burns combo win the first stakes race of the season, they also upped their local record to a perfect three-for-three. Just Trust Me drew off to win by five lengths and it could have been more. It was a mismatch for a horse that might just be the local Manitoba Derby horse to beat. “We’ll see,” said Burns. “He’s going to the Golden Boy next.”

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Friday, Jun. 6, 2025

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo

Just Trust Me and jockey Antonio Whitehall won the Fancy As Overnight Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday.

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo
                                Just Trust Me and jockey Antonio Whitehall won the Fancy As Overnight Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday.

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