Jerry Gourneau on a Roll, Hidden Grace Baby Tops Yearling Sale at $36,000, Take Charge Tom Wins Canadian Derby

Jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch is congratulated after winning the Already Dia Stakes aboard Malibu S S on Tuesday at ASD for trainer Jerry Gourneau and owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)

Take Charge Tom returned with a vengeance last Saturday in the $200,000 Canadian Derby, trainer Jerry Gourneau continued to roll up the leader board with back-to-back overnight stakes wins, and a son of one of the best mares in Assiniboia Downs history topped the Manitoba CTHS Yearling sale this week.

After an unfortunate disqualification from first in the Manitoba Derby, Take Charge Tom made it supremely clear who was the best horse in the Canadian Derby (G3), stalking from the inside after stumbling at the break, surging through a hole on the rail in late turn and romping away under jockey Rasheed Hughes to win by 5 ¾-lengths for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Randy Howg.

Attack, who was elevated to first in the Manitoba Derby, lost the head bob for second in the race, while fellow Manitoba Derby runner Border Song finished fifth, but it was certainly an excellent showing for all three Manitoba Derby runners.

Also on the undercard at Century Mile was the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks, which was won by multiple ASD stakes winner Welcometohollywood, trained by Jared Brown for himself and ownership partner John Ganas, and ridden to victory by Antonio Whitehall, who is currently battling with Damario Bynoe for the ASD jockey title.

It was a banner weekend for Brown and Ganas at Century Mile, as they also won the $50,000 Princess Margaret Stakes with local Debutante Stakes winner Wecanonlyimagine, local jockey Neville Stephenson in the irons. The 2-year-old Omaha Beach filly is now a perfect 3-for-3 and looks like she has a very bright future ahead of her.

The future is also looking better every day for five-time ASD training champ Jerry Gourneau, who won six races for owner Henry S. Witt Jr. this week, including back-to-back overnight stakes on Tuesday evening. Gourneau won the Miss Imperial Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares with Baby Gundin ($13.60) and the Already Dia Overnight Stakes with Malibu S S ($7.20).

Both stakes winners upset the favourites in their respective races, and Malibu S S ended the mighty Judo’s local win streak at four races, despite Judo’s very game effort for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr.

Gourneau’s six wins vaulted him into third place in the standings with 20 wins, still 12 behind leading trainer Keplin, but gaining fast. Can Gourneau catch Keplin? “We’re not worried about that right now,” said Gourneau. “We’re just having fun and doing our job. Winning races.”

Son of champion Hidden Grace by Speculating Tops Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale

The annual Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale took place on Sunday, August 24, and it was held for the first time in the new yearling sale pavilion in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch. The sale was very well attended, and 21 of the 42 horses offered for sale sold for an average of $10,407.

Hip #32, a bay gelding by Speculating out of champion local mare Hidden Grace, consigned by Ziprick Thoroughbreds was expected to be the sales topper, and he didn’t disappoint, stopping the hammer at $36,000 for new owner Barry Arnason.

“We feel that this year’s sale was extremely successful in many different areas,” said Manitoba CTHS Director Wayne King. “We believe that 21 owners just got themselves 21 really good deals, especially when you consider that many of the leading money earners at ASD over the past five years have come out of the sale, and every major 2-year-old stakes race here has been won by a sales graduate or their sibling. We also had a record number of people register to bid online this year, which in turn generated the most live bids we’ve ever had at the sale.

“Our sales entries increased by 40% over 2024, and we sold basically twice as many horses as last year. We also announced that we’re increasing the 2026 CTHS Sale Stakes purse to $50,000, and our “New Foal” Joint Incentive program with the MJC is fully subscribed again for this year. So everything is continuing to trend forward in a very positive manner. 

“We’ve already started planning for next year’s sale, and it’s going to be bigger and better on all fronts!”