Eventual R. C. Anderson Stakes winner Twolefttoload trails the field early in the race. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
Twolefttoload went from last to first to win the 50th running of the R.C. Anderson Stakes; jockey Sven Balroop topped all riders with four wins on the week; Steve Keplin Jr. matched that on the trainer side; and five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau continued to climb the leaderboard with four wins of his own—on a week highlighted by increasingly bigger crowds.
Twolefttoload and groom/assistant trainer for Mike Nault Brittany Bergen after winning the $50,000 R. C. Anderson Stakes Tuesday evening at ASD. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia photo)
Twolefttoload ($6.40) wasn’t supposed to win the R.C. Anderson Stakes on Tuesday, at least according to the odds board, but she was certainly given a chance as the second choice. It didn’t look like that early in the one-mile race, though, as she trailed the field by almost 10 lengths after a quarter mile, while favourite Nikkitysplit opened a clear lead that stretched to 4½ lengths after six furlongs.
Trophy Presentation for the R. C. Anderson Stakes. Trainer Mike Nault with A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By that time, however, Twolefttoload was in full gear and flying under jockey Damario Bynoe, and by the top of the stretch, Nikkitysplit’s lead had been cut to a length. Twolefttoload just kept coming—and probably could have gone around again—as she powered by the favourite in mid-stretch and drew off to win by 2½ lengths.
Trained by Mike Nault for A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds, Twolefttoload was winning the first stakes race of her career, having previously finished second in the Hazel Wright Sire Stakes and third in last year’s Buffalo Stakes.
Anderson family connections with the R. C. Anderson Trophy in the winner’s circle. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
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 over $50,000 for her owners from a record of 2-3-1 in 10 starts—and she’s still improving. The farther they go, the better.
Tuesday was Winnipeg Goldeyes Night at the Races, and fans loved being able to interact with the pony in the winner’s circle! (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Sven Balroop led all jockeys with four wins on the week to move into fourth in the standings with 22 victories. Co-leading riders Prayven Badrie and Damario Bynoe each posted hat tricks to remain tied at the top with 27 wins apiece. Three-time leading ASD rider Antonio Whitehall won a pair of races to stay within striking range with 24 wins. Rachaad Knights rounds out the top five in the jockey standings with 14 victories.
Jockey Sven Balroop and trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. won four races apiece this week. Shown here with Wednesday’s 8th race winner Blackteca. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Trainer Steve Keplin Jr. won four races to maintain his dominant position atop the trainer standings with 24 wins—eight more than Mike Nault (16), who had a hat trick that included the aforementioned stakes score. Wendy Anderson and Tom Gardipy Jr. each recorded singles to move into a tie for third with Jared Brown, all with 12 wins apiece.
And last but definitely not least, five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau racked up four wins to move into a tie for sixth with Jason Homer at nine wins—which has everyone wondering…
Can Gourneau catch Keplin?
Trainer Jerry Gourneau and assistant trainer/groom Jennifer Tourangeau after winning the 5th race with Malibu S S on Wednesday. Gourneau is on the move! (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)