Alberta Breeders' Fall Classic and Sale Connections
Admin • September 3, 2020
The Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic day is fast approaching with a total of $210,000 available to Alberta breds over seven races to be held at Century Mile on Sunday, September 6 starting at 5:15 pm. The CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred sale will follow on Friday, September 18th offering a selection of quality yearlings to buyers. The sale starts at 3:00 pm in the Agricentre East building at Westerner Park in Red Deer. More information may be found on the CTHS Alberta web site at www.cthsalta.com.
Five runners are entered in the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap
for three year olds and up Alberta breds including past sale graduates REGAL MAX, ZICATELA and MISTER MACHO MAN. A yearling by the same sire as Mister Macho Man is on offer in the sale as Hip 62. Both are sired by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Mucho Macho Man, who has 58 winners with progeny earnings of over $7.5 Million.
The Alberta Oaks
for three year old Alberta bred fillies has five CTHS Sale grads among the six entries. The 2019 Champion Two Year Old filly, PEARL OF KNOWLEDGE ($91,754) will be a horse to watch as the winner of both the Sturgeon River Stakes and the CTHS Sales Stakes in 2019. This season, Pearl of Knowledge has placed second in both the black type Sonoma Handicap and the Chariot Chaser Handicap. Hip 5 in the upcoming sale is a half-sister to Pearl of Knowledge, out of the Kafwain mare, Lil Missknowitall ($142,568).
The successful Cape Canaveral sired stakes winner MUSIC AT WORK ($58,798) is entered following her recent win in the black type Sonoma Handicap. This three year old has placed in seven of her ten starts to date. Another Cape Canaveral sired nominated runner, SALSA TANGO, placed third in the Sturgeon River Handicap in 2019.
There is opportunity to purchase a Cape Canaveral sired yearling in the CTHS Alberta sale from four offered as Hips 30, 47, 54 and 58. Cape Canaveral is a leading Canadian sire with progeny that includes 37 stakes winners and over $17 Million in earnings.
The CTHS Sale graduate and Omega Code runner, JEANIE DEANS, is nominated to the Alberta Oaks. An Omega Code yearling is on offer as Hip 34 in the sale out of the Include mare, All the Toys. The Elusive Quality son, Omega Code, has 188 winners, 12 stakes winners
(including 2 champions) and total progeny earnings of $8.6 Million.
The Red Diamond Express Handicap
for three year olds and up has seven entries including three CTHS Sale graduates.
A half sibling to STRIDERS RING out of the Black Minnaloushe mare, Doctor MJ, is consigned as Hip 52. Striders Ring was a 2017 CTHS Alberta sale purchase and placed second in the Alberta Derby with a total of 4 wins at 3 and 4 for earnings of $57,119 to date.
The six year old runner BAR NO Q is the defending Red Diamond Express Handicap champion after capturing the title last season along with a win in the Harvest Plate Stakes. This gelding is by the multiple graded stakes runner Gayego who is also the sire of Hip 39 in the sale. Gayego has progeny that includes six stakes winners, among them Alberta champion Bar No Q ($163,569).
A half-brother to the runner and 2015 CTHS Sale graduate, PACIORETTY, out of the Statue of Liberty mare, Americas Dreaming (IRE) is available as Hip 35. This dam has produced four foals to race including Alberta runner Pacioretty who has $121,652 in earnings to date and was second in the CTHS Sales Stake and third in the Beaufort Stakes.
The Sturgeon River Stakes
Seven past CTHS Sale graduates are among the field of eight runners entered for the Sturgeon River Stakes for two year old Alberta bred fillies.
A full sibling to IT’S NO HOLIDAY is available in the sale as Hip 7 sired by the Distorted Humor stallion, It’s No Joke. This stallion has sired 64 winners with progeny earnings of $5.8 Million. The dam is the Harlan’s Holiday mare, My Lady’s Holiday ($70,690) who is a half-sister to Candy Con ($28,863).
A half-sister to entry, BOUND TO BE SMART, is consigned as Hip 40 out of the Bellamy Road mare, Boundary Creek. Bound to be Smart is the second foal for Boundary Creek who is also the dam of Bluebellejam ($15,358).
The runner COUNT ON IT is sired by the multiple graded stakes runner Gayego who is the sire of Hip 39 on offer in the sale. Gayego is the sire of six stakes winners including Alberta champion Bar No Q ($163,569).
A half-sister to LIGHT FAST FEET is on offer as Hip 32 out of the Wilko mare Wilko Rose. Hip 32 is by the Bernardini stallion, Car Talk (IRE) who has sired nine winners including the Count Lathum and Western Canada Handicap winner, Sharp Dressed Beau ($77,863).
The Beaufort Stakes
for three year old Alberta breds has nine entries with seven of the field made up of CTHS Sale graduates. These graduates include such successful Alberta runners as 2019 black type Birdcatcher stakes winner BARE BACK JACK ($49,953); 2019 Alberta Premier’s Futurity winner, DUNE D’ORO ($73,856); second place finisher in the Canadian Juvenile Stakes and the CTHS Sales Stakes, GREEK GEEK ($31,671); and Western Canada Handicap and City of Leduc Stakes winner MASKWECIS ($57,895).
A yearling sired by the Distorted Humor stallion, Jimmy Creed, is on offer as Hip 65. Jimmy Creed sired MASKWECIS and has 13 stakes winners with progeny earnings of $9.9 Million. RYANWATER, is out of the mare, Americas Dreaming (IRE). This dam has produced four foals to race including Alberta runner Pacioretty who has $121,652 in earnings to date and was second in the CTHS Sales Stake and third in the Beaufort Stakes.
TRADER LYNN, is by the multiple graded stakes runner Gayego who is the sire of Hip 39 on offer in the sale. Gayego is the sire of six stakes winners including Alberta champion Bar No Q ($163,569). TRIPLE POWER offers the opportunity to watch a Cape Canaveral sired runner and potentially bid on one of the four Cape Canaveral sired yearlings at the sale.
The Alberta Premier’s Futurity
for two year old Alberta breds has nine entries of which eight are past CTHS Sale graduates. The runner OLD DOUBLE DIAMOND, has a half sibling available as Hip 47 in the sale out of the Ministers Wild Cat mare, Cinderella Brite ($62,787). Old Double Diamond is the first foal for this dam and has already placed second and third in his only two starts to date as a two year old.
Both SIR MIEZIE and WEDGE POND are sired by successful stallion Cape Canaveral who is among the leading sires in Canada with progeny that includes 37 stakes winners and over $17 Million in earnings. Four Cape Canaveral yearlings are offered in the CTHS Alberta sale as Hips 30, 47, 54 and 58.
Eight entries are competing in the Alberta Fall Classic Distaff
for three year old fillies and mares including six CTHS Sale alumni.
Three yearlings with the same sire as the successful No Hesitation runner, MISS HESI, are available in the sale as Hips 6, 12 and 21. The four year old won both the 2019 Alberta Oaks and the 2018 Sturgeon River Stakes and has earnings to date of $62,015. The stakes winning son of Siberian Summer, No Hesitation, is well known for having captured races such as the Canadian Derby, the Ky Alta Handicap, and the Count Lathum Handicap.
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n Memory of Golden Made (1998 - 2025)
Today, we say goodbye to Golden Made, whose beauty, kindness and spirit made her a favourite for everyone on the farm.
Golden Made earned over $372,000 on the track with 11 wins from ages 2 to 5, but her greatest gift to us was in the breeding shed: 12 foals, 12 to race, 12 to win. She was perfect.
Highfield Stock Farm was fortunate to purchase Golden Made at the Keeneland January Sale in 2007, and she has been a cherished part of our broodmare band ever since.
2024 Alberta Thoroughbred Industry Award Winners Celebrated at the 51st Night of Champions
The achievements of Alberta’s Thoroughbred industry were proudly recognized on Saturday, May 3, as the new racing season kicked off at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino. More than 130 owners, breeders, trainers, and passionate fans gathered in the Triple Crown Suites for the annual Night of Champions celebration. Against the backdrop of a thrilling day of live racing — and the excitement of the Kentucky Derby — Alberta’s top Thoroughbreds and their connections were honored for their success during the 2024 season. With champions crowned and the starting gates open, the 2025 season began in true Alberta racing style.
The Princess of the Track is now Queen of the Hill.
Absolutely marvelous, Big Hug was named Alberta’s Horse Of the Year Saturday at the annual Night of Champions Awards dinner at Century Mile.
Also named Alberta’s 2024 Champion Older Mare and Champion Alberta-bred, Big Hug won six of her eight starts in Alberta last year capturing the Founders Distaff, CTHS Sales stake, the Fall Classic Distaff and the R.K. ‘Red’ Smith Handicap for owner/trainer Rick Hedge and Lori and Martin Neyka’s Empire Equestrian.
Purchased by Hedge for just $3,400 at the Alberta Yearling Sale, the now-five-year-old mare won $175,500 last year and $354,000 in her career.
Big Hug was sired by Mr. Big and is out of the mare Temeeku, who broke her maiden for no tag at Del Mar, California.
“Best horse I’ve ever trained,” said Hedge, 76, who has trained many outstanding thoroughbreds in his career and many more as a jockey.
The Western Canadian Derby Series is back and bigger than ever for 2025!
🏇 $100,000 Derby Bonus for any 3-year-old who sweeps the Manitoba Derby (Aug 4), Canadian Derby (Aug 23), and BC Derby (Sept 13) – now all back in the lineup!
💰 Plus, a $25,000 Owner-Trainer Bonus is up for grabs based on points earned across all three races
#horseracingalberta #albertaracing #ridersup #FeelTheRush #bestinthewest
Equineline and T.I.P. today announced the launch of a new report centered on Thoroughbreds in their second careers.
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Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications21 hours ago
The public comment period for the proposed countermeasures, with feedback from business, stakeholders, and Canadians regarding their impacts has been extended to April 2nd.
Once again, we strongly encourage all industry stakeholders to submit their input through this comment submission form and request an exemption to the Canadian tariffs for purebred breeding and racing horses at https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cm7upmkx9008rx268zhy9l6pj.
Please make sure you make a note of the following HS Tariff Items in your exemption request:
HS Tariff Item 0101.21.00 Pure-bred breeding animals
HS Tariff Item 0101.29.00.20 – Other For Racing
From the racetrack to the show ring! Code, the first foal out of Crimson Deed by Omega Code, retired sound after his racing career and found a new purpose with a dedicated young rider from High River. Given the time and patience OTTBs need to transition, Carol built a strong bond with him before training for his second career. Now, they’re gearing up for their next big challenge—a show at Spruce Meadows from March 13-16. A true testament to the versatility and heart of Alberta-breds!
Alberta’s breeding industry is thriving, with qualifying stallion owners sharing in an impressive $85,000 in breeding awards for the 2024 season! The Horse Racing Alberta Breed Improvement Program Stallion Bonus rewarded 34 stallions at a rate of 3.25%, building on the momentum of 2023’s $75,000 at 3.26%—a testament to the growing success of Alberta-sired runners.
Cape Canaveral topped the Stallion Bonus leaderboard with an impressive $13,969 payout, followed by Fed Biz ($8,217), It’s No Joke ($6,486), Saturdaynitelites ($5,509), and Imperialism ($5,120), solidifying their impact on Alberta’s breeding scene. With Alberta-sired winners making their mark on the track, the future of the province’s breeding program has never looked brighter!