From a $12,000 bargain buy as a yearling at the 2023 Harrisburg Sale, to an O’Brien Award Finalist, Wickedpace proved she had just that in an explosive rookie campaign. The standout pacing filly proved to be a diamond in the rough for trainer and co-owner Paul Cameron, providing a series of firsts for the conditioner.

“We just couldn’t be happier with how the year went for her,” Cameron told Trot Insider. “We’d never had a horse compete in races like this before, and we just feel fortunate to have her.”

Wickedpace found herself in the O’Brien Award mix after a two-year-old season that never saw her off the board in nine outings. With four wins, four seconds and a third, Wickedpace banked $330,800 at two for owners Paul and Jayme Cameron and Arnolds Horse Shack. While the connections hadn’t had the likes of a Ontario Sires Stakes Gold competitor prior, it was early on in Wickedpace’s two-year-old season that the connections were told on good authority she was ready for the spotlight.

“She qualified well and was good in her first couple of starts,” Cameron said, “But after her second start, Doug McNair drove her and told us we need to consider giving her a shot in the Gold. We did and it worked out pretty good.”

McNair offered the suggestion after Wickedpace scored by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2 against conditioned company in her second start at Woodbine Mohawk Park. From there, McNair was back in the bike as she scored in a career best 1:52.3 against Gold company on July 6 before backing it up with a 1:53.2 score on July 16 with Jody Jamieson in the bike who assumed the drive for the remainder of the season. Wickedpace was eventually deemed the winner of the $175,000 Battle of the Belles, six months after she crossed the wire third in that race following a decision by the Horse Racing Appeal Panel to revise the order of finish, but it was the Gold victories that stood out to Cameron.

“Her first Gold win was great, it was my first Gold win, but the second win really stands out,” Cameron recalled. “Jody [Jamieson] drove her, and he was there when we bought the filly at Harrisburg. I had a bunch of family and friends there, and for her to race that well just 10 days after the first Gold win, it was really a cool moment.”

Wickedpace ended her campaign with three consecutive runner-up finishes to fellow O’Brien Finalist, Chantilly, being timed in 1:51.3 in each of her last two outings including the $300,000 OSS Gold Super Final. 

“Every start, every race, she gave 100 percent last year,” Cameron noted, “She’s a good, strong gaited filly, but the biggest thing with her is she wants it and will try with everything she has got.”

Bred by Winbak Farm, the daughter of McWicked is the 10th foal from the Artsplace mare, My Little Art. While the mare was yet to produce a six-figure earner until Wickedpace, My Little Art is a half-sister to the likes of double-millionaire and world champion, My Little Dragon. That information along with the size and strength of Wickedpace were enough for Cameron to take the chance at the $12,000 price tag as a yearling.

“We really liked the pedigree on the mare side,” Cameron said. “She was a very big, good looking and correct filly, and with the first cross McWicked we thought we would take a shot when she fell in our price range.”

Now as the calendar turns to 2025 and Wickedpace preps for her three-year-old campaign, it is the stakes calendar where the connections will look to take their shots now.

“We’re going to stake her to some of the local races at Mohawk for sure this year,” Cameron stated. “We weren’t able to beat her last year, but to race against a great filly like Chantilly who beat the best every time she raced against them and feel like we were second best to her here in Ontario kind of gives you the confidence to want to try a few stakes races.”

After spending a few months in Kentucky, Wickedpace has returned to training in the Cameron barn while he prepares for his first trip to the O’Brien Award gala, a trip he’s not taking for granted.

“When you look at how many horses are paid up in Canada and to have one of the two nominated from the group, it’s unbelievable,” Cameron reflected, “We’re just so proud of her and really excited to make the trip.”

The 2024 O’Brien Award winners will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the O’Brien Awards Gala, which will take place at the Delta Meadowvale / Mississauga in Mississauga, Ont.

(Standardbred Canada)