One thing you can say about Winning Ticket is that he lives up to his name. Winning Ticket rolled off 10 straight wins to start the season on his way to being named the 2021 Ohio Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.

The son of Triumphant Caviar won 11 of 12 races earning $437,497 for the ownership group of trainer Chris Beaver, Steven Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett.

Bred by James Bender, Winning Ticket won the Ohio State Fair Stakes and the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stakes before finishing third in the Canadian Trotting Classic. He wrapped up the season winning the Ohio Breeders Championship to claim the Ohio Triple Crown.

In 20 career starts, Winning Ticket has hit the wire first in 15 races, earning $532,544.

Beaver said Winning Ticket is the best Triumphant Caviar he has ever trained.

“He was dominant this year," said Beaver. "My goal was just to keep him healthy to the final.”

Winning Ticket stayed healthy until he was injured in winning the Ohio Breeders Championship. Beaver said he tore a suspensory but the prognosis is good.

“It is not as bad as it could be," he said. "I have some experience with injuries like this and we are hoping to bring him back next year.”

Winning Ticket will be honoured at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on January 15, at the Hilton Columbus-Polaris in Columbus, Ohio.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)