Antonio Whitehall wins the 6th race on Tuesday aboard the longshot of the week, Not True ($64.80) for trainer Marion Johnston. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
Jockeys Antonio Whitehall and Sven Balroop continued to battle it out for top spot in the jockey standings, trainer Jerry Gourneau added another win to his runaway total, the first Girls Night Out of 2026 was a hit, and for the first time in history, a Manitoba-bred is one of the favourites for the $1 million King’s Plate.
Whew! That’s quite a week!
Whitehall won two races to move into a tie in the standings with Balroop with 17 wins each. His two winners included Regal Rumor ($6.00) in the 4th race on Wednesday for trainer Mike Nault, and the longshot of the week, Not True ($64.80), courtesy of a perfect ride, in the 6th race on Tuesday for trainer Marion Johnson. Balroop won the 7th race on Wednesday aboard You Vee Cee ($3.90) for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr., who continues to win at a torrid 44 percent clip.
Trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. gets a high five from jockey Sven Balroop after winning the 7th race on Wednesday aboard You Vee Cee. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Keplin has 15 wins on the season now, which puts him comfortably in second place in the standings behind runaway leader Jerry Gourneau, who is going after his sixth leading trainer title at the Downs. Gourneau won the 3rd race on Wednesday with Main Dude ($8.90), Sheldon Chickeness up, and now has 34 wins on the season. Gourneau is winning with 25 percent of his starters and he’s not going to be caught.
Double winners on the week among the jockeys included Kerron Khelawan and Rachaad Knights. Khelawan won the 1st race aboard Golden Cheero ($7.00) on Wednesday for trainer Carl Anderson, and the 5th race the same evening aboard Messi the Great ($5.20) for trainer Wendy Anderson after an exciting stretch duel.
Trainer Jerry Gourneau upped his meet-leading total to 34 wins with his victory in the third race on Wednesday with Main Dude, Sheldon Chickeness up. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Knights won the 1st race on Tuesday with Wings of a Sparrow ($8.70) for trainer Elton Dickey, and 7th race with a determined effort off the layoff aboard In Form ($7.50) for trainer Monique Goulet. Both Knights and Khelawan continue to climb in the standings and now have nine wins apiece.
And for the first time we can remember, a Manitoba-bred is one of the favourites for the $1 million King’s Plate. Brachetto, bred by Dr. Ross McKague of Brandon Manitoba, won the $150,000 Marine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on June 27 and he’s now first or second on anyone’s list for the Plate, which takes place on August 15. The Canadian Thoroughbred had him in second on their list of contenders this week, but if you watch the replay of his Marine Stakes (6th race on June 27) at HPIBet.com you might just move him into your top spot.
Manitoba-bred Brachetto wins the Marine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine for owner/breeder Dr. Ross McKague on June 27. (Michael Burns / Woodbine Photo)
McKague has bred horses for over 50 years. This is his first open graded stakes winner. Brachetto is a son of Vekoma, who stands for $100,000 now, but McKague bred to him for just $15,000 with his mare Colorino, before he got rolling in his stud career, and he’s certainly hot now! Full story in the Winnipeg Free Press here.
The summer crowds continue to grow at ASD. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
The same could be said for the weather, which is bringing out fans in droves for live racing. The crowds at ASD have been growing steadily for over a decade now for good reasons, and the first Girls Night Out on Wednesday just provided another. See you Monday for Dollar Night and Wiener Dog Racing! And Tuesday for free Family Fun Events . . .
And Wednesday!
Girls Night Out takes place every Wednesday at ASD through July and August. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)