Judo (#3 between horses) and jockey Sven Balroop on their way to winning the Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
There were some exceptionally well-managed horses at Assiniboia Downs in 2025, and they naturally included the top five money earners, all high-class runners that anyone would love to have in their stable.
Who was the best of the bunch?
Judo
Leading 2025 ASD money earner Judo (outside) and jockey Prayven Badrie win the R.J. Speers for leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Judo put together a four-race win streak in 2025 that included victories in the Free Press Stakes, the R.J. Speers and the Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile Stakes. The 5-year-old gelding by Street Sense also finished second in the Already Dia Overnight Stakes and fourth in the Gold Cup, but he was always the horse to beat for leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. and owner James Parisien. Claimed by Keplin for $12,500 at Turfway Park in December of 2024, Judo finished the year as a triple stakes winner with a record of 4-1-1 and earnings of US$81,749. Nicely done!
Welcometohollywood
Welcometohollywood returns after winning the Jack Hardy Stakes for trainer Jared Brown, groom Susan Crane, and jockey Antonio Whitehall. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Welcometohollywood started her season locally with second-place finishes in the Honourable Lady Overnight Stakes and the Chantilly, and then went on a three-race win streak that included the Jack Hardy Stakes, Manitoba Oaks, and the Century Casino Oaks at Century Mile. Trained by Jared Brown for himself and ownership partner John Ganas, the 3-year-old filly by Omaha Beach also finished second in the Manitoba Matron Stakes. Purchased for just US$7,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale by Brown and Cam Ziprick, last year’s Winnipeg Futurity winner compiled a 2025 record of 3-3-0 from eight starts for earnings of US$108,949, US$63,259 of which came from Assiniboia Downs races. Truly a bargain!
Betterlucknexttime
Manitoba-bred Betterlucknexttime gets a pat from jockey Antonio Whitehall as groom Brittany Bergen leads him into the winner’s circle after their victory in the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes for trainer Mike Nault. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Betterlucknexttime was the top Manitoba-bred on the money earnings list in 2025, and yet another local star who went on a three-race win streak. Bred by Larry Falloon and Denis Huberdeau, the 3-year-old gelding by Nonios won both the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes and the J.W. Sifton Stakes and compiled a 2025 record of 4-1-1 from nine starts for earnings of US$57,823 for owners A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds and trainer Mike Nault. A $25,000 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale purchase in 2023, last year’s Buffalo Stakes winner has now earned US$91,519 from a career record 6-2-1 in 13 starts, easily paying back his purchase price with a handsome profit!
Burrow Down
Burrow Down powers home to win the Manitoba Matron under jockey Damario Bynoe for trainer Mike Taphorn and groom Katie Morris. (Danielle Langlois / Assiniboia Photo)
Burrow Down won the Manitoba Matron Stakes for the third year in a row at Assiniboia Downs, and continued to build on her stellar local record. Trained by Mike Taphorn for owner Gerald Babchishin, the 6-year-old mare by Connect also won the Canada Stakes at the Downs after beginning her year with a victory at Century Mile in the RedTail Landing Handicap. One of the best mares ever to race at ASD, Burrow Down finished the season with a record of 3-1-1 from six starts for earnings of US$78,413, of which US$56,579 came from her local races, and improved her lifetime record to 12-6-6 from 35 starts for earnings of US$216,155. The horse to beat in every one of her local races.
Attack
2025 Manitoba Derby winner Attack (checkered blinkers) and jockey N’Rico Prescod early in the running of the 77th Derby. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Attack took the fifth spot on the earnings list thanks to his victory in the Manitoba Derby, which was his lone start at Assiniboia Downs in 2025, and he did it via disqualification of the horse that crossed the finish line first, Take Charge Tom. Conditioned by top Alberta-based trainer Craig Smith, the 3-year-old gelding by Munnings had trouble early in the Derby, partially caused by Take Charge Tom, but made a spirited run late to be beaten only 1 ¼-lengths before being elevated to the win spot. Owned by a partnership that included , Attack went on to finish third in the Canadian Derby (G3) and sixth in the B.C. Derby (G3), to win the $25,000 owner/trainer bonus offered in the Western Canada Derby series. He finished the year with a record of 1-0-2 from seven starts for total earnings of US$84,743, US$55,519 of which came from his Manitoba Derby victory.
Congratulations to the top five earners at ASD in 2025, all of which had stellar care and connections for longtime owners and top trainers. The same could be said for the top five Manitoba-bred earners at ASD in 2025, which we’ll cover next week!