(PHOTO - Ontario owner JOHN WILSON, centre, accepted the AQHA's Canadian Champion of 2015 award for his 2-year-old gelding PANTHER HERO at the Jan. 20 ceremony in Oklahoma. Three days later hE bought four horses to bring home to Ontario. Panther Hero is trained by Scott Reid, left. JIM HEIRD of the AQHA made the presentation. SUSAN BACHELOR PHOTO FOR SPEEDHORSE)
Several of Ontario’s Quarter Horse owners were in attendance at the 38th Heritage Place Mixed sale in Oklahoma City on Jan. 21 through 24 and many brought new faces to the province.
John Wilson, owner of the 2015 QROOI High Point 2-year-old Gelding Panther Hero, came away with four purchases he hopes to race in 2016.
The most expensive of these was A Game Dasher, a winning 3-year-old filly by First Down Dash from Miss Game Tee, by Game Patriot who cost $22,000 (US). The filly is a half sister to Grade 2 stakes winner A Game Dame.
“She was a well-put together little filly,” said Wilson. “Hopefully she will do well.”
A Game Dasher, who has posted a 95 speed index will be trained by Scott Reid.
Wilson also bought Bodacious Victory, a 3-year-old filly from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Bodacious Dash for $5,000; a 4-year-old filly by top sire PYC Paint Your Wagon for $11,500 named Rockin Miss Kitty and Magic of Corona, a 4-year-old gelding by Corona Cartel who cost $11,000.
Only a few days earlier, on Jan. 20, Wilson and Reid were on hand at the AQHA Awards ceremony to accept the Canadian Champion trophy for Panther Hero.
“It was pretty special,” said Wilson, who is from New Liskeard, ON. “He tries hard and he’s not a great big guy. He’s had a great winter and we’re looking forward to 2016.”
Also spotted on the sales sheets at the Heritage auction was Milena Kwiecien of Burlington, ON who also picked up four horses to bring to Ontario.
Kwiecien, who operates a 100-acre farm with reining horses and show jumpers with her partner Glen Young, ventured into Quarter Horse racing four years ago. Kwiecien has two Ontario sired horses to race in 2016 and wanted to build on her numbers.
“We want to give [racing] a decent shot this year," said Kwiecien. “It was really exciting to be at the sale and see so many well-bred, beautiful horses. It was a buyer’s sale too.”
Kwiecien paid $15,000 for Valiant Stoli Time, a placed 3-year-old gelding by Valiant Hero, the sire of Panther Hero and one of the leading stallions in the US in 2015. She also bought two juveniles from the second crop of the exciting young stud Louisiana Senator and a 3-year-old filly, La Wanda, by FDD Dynasty.
Jason Pascoe, owner of the 2014 Horse of the Year Streakingshagginwagon, trains Kwiecien's horses.
Other Ontario buyers included Wayne and Carol Proctor who paid $4,000 for a yearling filly named Ocean Front Jess.
Ajax Downs’ leading trainer Renee Wilson also bought several horses including Fast Buck, a 3-year-old gelding by Teller Cartel who cost $9,500.
Two notable runners from 2015 at Ajax were sold at the sale. Rick Crispi’s stakes winner SM Chicns N Garters
sold for $25,000 to Juan Aleman and Ivy Lane Racing’s stakes winner Mr Victory Six was purchase for $38,000 by Hugo Lara Fuentes.
(PHOTO BELOW - At the sale in Oklahoma City was Gloria Egerton and Wayne Prctor - Susan Bachelor photo)
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