The process of scouting and going over yearlings is not an exact science but every year nearly every horseperson tries to pick out the best of the bunch. That said, Kevin MacLean had a strong suspicion he had something special when he came across Woodmere Jazz at the 2020 Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale.

“We thought this is the one that was the most correct and she has a good pedigree. We were very fortunate to get her for a good price.”

Reg MacPherson collared the yearling filly for $14,500 and entrusted MacLean with training duties. MacLean quickly knew they made the right choice and had high expectations for her heading into his rookie season.

“I was absolutely hoping she would have this success. She trained down perfectly. She’s a very smart horse and almost like a three-year-old to train down. She was gaited really well, and she trained like a professional.”

At first glance the young filly looks rather small, but that didn’t bother MacLean. “There is not a whole lot of mass to her, but everything is very correct on her. In proportion, she is very well made. She wears a bigger harness and when you try to fit a harness on her, you notice her girth is bigger than you think.

“You’re looking over everything and trying to find faults in them. The cleanest usually end up being the best and I’ve had some really good luck with smaller horses.”

Woodmere Jazz seems to have the right ingredients to make a potential star, and the way she’s started her career — three wins in three starts — cannot be faulted. “Her maturity is the big thing,” noted MacLean. “She doesn’t waste any energy getting worked up. She stays calm and she’s very professional. She knows what she has to do. It didn’t take her long to learn anything. She’s just a natural athlete.”

That natural athleticism is crucial for horses, especially those in Atlantic Canada with half-mile racetracks the order of the day. When post position is such a factor, horses must be versatile. “She can get positioned wherever she needs to be positioned. She’s very good gaited and she steers well. We also have a very professional driver. When you have Gilles Barrieau in the seat you can’t go wrong. When you have a young horse like this, there is no concern that he will get them around the track well.”

The veteran Barrieau is also impressed with what he has seen thus far from Woodmere Jazz.

“She blows me away,” said the multiple O’Brien Award winner. “She’s not very big, just a small little thing but she’s a nice horse to drive. She drives like a car! She can’t do anything wrong. I’ve driven her three times and I’ve driven her different each time, but that doesn’t bother her.

“She loves to race which makes my job so much easier.”

In her first start on Canada day at Red Shores Summerside, Woodmere Jazz got the luck of the draw and received the rail in a field of seven. She was a handy winner in 2:00.4. Woodmere Jazz’s most recent start came at Truro Raceway on July 13 where she was spotted on the outside of a field of six. She paced her fastest mile to date in that Atlantic Sires Stakes event, winning in 1:57.4. Currently she has $12,308 in earnings and has quickly established herself as one of the division’s best. Although the future is not always clear, Maclean is hoping she will continue to keep improving.

“I still don’t really know how good she is but right now she’s doing what she’s supposed to be. She got the narrow win up the passing lane at Summerside but then she looked better at Truro so hopefully she will continue improving.”

The $12,000 PEI Colt Stakes is up next for Woodmere Jazz on Sunday (July 25) once again at Summerside. This will be her third start over the Prince County half-mile oval, and she’s more than likely to head postward as the betting choice. Leaving from post two in the field of five, she’s listed at 5-2 on the morning line and would be a gift at that price.

To view the entries for Sunday's card of harness racing at Summerside, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Summerside Raceway.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Trey Colbeck)