Steve Keplin, Jr., Antonio Whitehall, Stars of Stakes-Filled Week at ASD

Groom Hannah Kraychuk leads Sawasdee and jockey Ronald Ali into the winner’s circle after his victory in the S S Pee Wee Stakes on Tuesday evening. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)

By G.S. Thompson

There was a feast of overnight stakes this week at ASD and wagering continued to go through the roof including huge Pick 4 Pools. Trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. and jockey Antonio Whitehall were the stars of the show, while new training arrival Dewey Williams upped his record to a perfect 3-for-3 including a win in the Fancy As Overnight Stakes on Tuesday evening with Just Trust Me.

The Fancy As Overnight Stakes was the first of the big features to run as the second race on Tuesday and 3-year-old colt Just Trust Me ($2.10) ran to his odds under jockey Antonio Whitehall, pressing the pace from the outside and drawing off to win as he pleased by five lengths for ownership partners Dewey Williams and Eugene Burns. If all goes according to plan, this talented colt is headed to the Manitoba Derby.

The Fancy As victory was Whitehall’s fourth win on the week following a hat trick on Monday, and he added another in the third race on Tuesday aboard Big Ticket for trainer Will Tourangeau. Whitehall’s  five victories moved the three-time ASD riding champion into a tie at the top of the standings with Damario Bynoe, who also won three races on the week. Bynoe and Whitehall now have nine wins apiece followed by Sven Balroop (8), Rachaad Knights (7) and Prayven Badrie (6).

The S S Peewee Overnight Stakes was also run on Tuesday evening and 7-year-old gelding Sawasdee($12.30) made some of the fastest horses on the grounds look slow early, opening a three-length lead early under jockey Ronald Ali and coasting home to win by 2 ¼-lengths for trainer Jared Brown and ownership partners Kane Kachur and Sharyn Houle. Sawasdee was probably the overlay of the week at 5-1 based on his back class and he certainly didn’t disappoint his backers.

Trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. put on his own stakes show on Wednesday night, with victories in both the Red Berry Overnight Stakes and the Honorable Lady Overnight Stakes.

In the Red Berry, 6-year-old mare Sophia’s Storm ($2.80) took advantage of a perfect trip under jockey Sven Balroop, stalking a three-horse duel, advancing wide to take over in late turn and romping away in the stretch to win by 2 ¾-lengths for her ownership team of Arnason Farms, Parker Wallette and James Keplin.

Two races later Keplin saddled 3-year-old filly Gina’s Serenade ($2.90) to win the Honorable Lady Overnight Stakes, who dueled outside and inside before drawing off to win by two lengths under Prayven Badrie for Arnason Farms. Last year’s Winnipeg Futurity winner Welcometohollywood came flying late to finish second after checking inside into the turn and was immediately added to everyone’s “Horses to Watch” list.

Keplin’s double stakes-winning performance vaulted him to the top of the trainer standings with eight victories on the season, followed by Tom Gardipy, Jr. and Lise Pruitt with five wins a piece, while Jared Brown, Wendy Anderson, Mike Nault, and Will Tourangeau formed a logjam in third spot with four wins each.

The wagering continued to be strong highlighted by huge Pick 4 pools on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of $138,708, $154,131, and $137,635 respectively, following Assiniboia Downs’ Owner/Trainer/Breeder Appreciation Dinner held the previous Thursday, the Downs presented cheques for $13,000 each to the Winners Foundation, which focuses on fostering a healthy environment at the track, and Final Furlong, which finds new homes for retired racehorses. The donations were made possible by proceeds from the 50/50 draws held throughout the 2024 live racing season.

The karma naturally followed.