Betterlucknexttime (#6) and Antonio Whitehall on their way to victory in the $40,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
Manitoba-breds put on quite the show again in 2025, with the top five earners all cracking the $50,000 mark and easily paving their way into the history books with some exceptional performances for their owners, breeders and trainers, once again proving that it pays to own horses bred in Manitoba, all of whom can take advantage of the stakes and bonus programs offered to homebreds.
Betterlucknexttime US$57,823
Betterlucknexttime topped all Manitoba-bred earners in 2025 with $US57,823. Bred by Larry Falloon and Denis Huberdeau, the 3-year-old gelding by Nonios went on a three-race winning streak early in the season that included a victory in the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes, and went on to win the J.W. Sifton Stakes later in the season, compiling a record of 4-1-1 from nine starts 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 $US91,519 from a career record 6-2-1 in 13 starts, easily paying back his purchase price with handsome profit!
Mighty Mikee US$50,974
Mighty Mikee and Shavon Belle win the $40,000 Buffalo Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
2-year-old Mighty Mikee showed all kinds of talent in his first lifetime start for trainer Devon Gittens and lived up to his promise with victories in both the CTHS Sales Stakes and the Buffalo Stakes in 2025.
In the Buffalo Stakes, the grey gelding by Mitole-Piccadilly Line by Air Force Blue set a fast pace early and romped away in the stretch under no urging from jockey Shavon Belle to notch the largest winning margin of the day in North America at 17 ¼-lengths.
Bred by Larry Falloon and owned by a partnership that includes Falloon, Anne Champion, and Mclaren Racing, Mighty Mikee was the sales topper at $32,000 in the 2024 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale, but has easily paid for himself with earnings of US$50,974 from a record of 3-1-0 in four starts, with more stellar performances no doubt yet to come.
Mechanic Susie US$50,598
Mechanic Susie returns with jockey Antonio Whitehall after winning the $40,000 Distaff Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Manitoba monster Mechanic Susie was at it again in 2025, winning her final three races of the season including the Distaff Stakes. Bred by Larry Falloon, who also owns the 5-year-old mare in partnership with Tom Payne and trainer Elton Dickey, the daughter of Nonios-Quantum Mechanics by Einstein was purchased for just $1,000 at the 2021 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale, and has since gone on to compile a career record of 11-3-5 from 22 starts for earnings of US$153,390.
Last year, on her way to championship honours, Mechanic Susie went on an amazing six-race win streak, which also included a victory in the Distaff Stakes. Trainer Elton Dickey has to be commended for his impressive work with this Manitoba star, who absolutely loves to win.
Twolefttoload US$45,208
Twolefttoload trails the field early before rallying to win the $40,000 R.C. Anderson Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Twolefttoload won three races including the R.C. Anderson Stakes in 2025, and just missed making it over the US$50,000 mark in her second season of racing at ASD.
Trained by Mike Nault for A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds, Twolefttoload was winning the first stakes race of her career in the R.C. Anderson, having previously finished second in the Hazel Wright Sire Stakes and third in last year’s Buffalo Stakes.
The 3-year-old Manitoba-bred filly by Speculating—Talkn to Midnight, by Broken Vow, was bred by Cam Ziprick and Charles and Stephane Fouillard, and sold for $23,500 in the 2023 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale. She has now earned US$55,222 for her owners from a record of 2-3-1 in 10 starts, and she’s still improving. The farther they go, the better.
Nikkitysplit US$37,773
Nikkitysplit and Rachaad Knights win the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Nikkitysplit won the 18th Running of the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes for Manitoba-sired 3-year-old fillies in 2025, and it wasn’t close. Trained by Tom Gardipy, Jr. the daughter of Speculating opened up early under jockey Rachaad Knights and maintained her lead to the wire to win by 3 ½-lengths over Twolefttoload, also a daughter of Speculating.
Nikkitysplit also finished second in the R. C. Anderson Stakes on her way to compiling a record of 2-2-1 from seven starts for earnings of US$37,773 in her first year at the track for owner-breeders Jerry Lambert and Lynn Mathews, and she’s another youngster who looks like she has a bright future ahead of her.
The thoroughbred breeding industry is flourishing in Manitoba right now, thanks to the new incentives put together by the Manitoba CTHS and MJC, along with the existing bonus programs, and we look forward to the next crop of Manitoba-bred stars in 2026!