In this week's Rewind, Robert Smith recalls another great piece of fairly recent history from the Ontario Sires Stakes program. His story revisits the first-ever undefeated season by a female performer in the then 18-year-old program — an accomplishment turned in by a rather amazing three-year-old pacing filly named Daisy Harbor.

In 1991, the Ontario Sires Stakes (O.S.S.) witnessed one of the great single-season performances as the three-year-old filly pacer Daisy Harbor became the first female competitor in the program to go undefeated for the entire season. While she was not undefeated in all of her starts that year, the daughter of Coal Harbor – J R Daisy was never defeated in 13 O.S.S. engagements. She also became the fastest Canadian-bred filly of all time when she took a time trial mark of 1:53.3 for driver Doug Brown at Lexington that same year.

She was bred by the Glori Belle Stable of Toronto and raced as a two-year-old by part-owner Wes Coke. After a short but successful freshman campaign, the filly was sold in a private deal to well-known sportsman John Grant of Hornby. This gentleman was well known in the industry and had been involved in many facets of the sport, including the building and part-ownership of Flamboro Downs.

Despite being lightly raced in 1990 as a two-year-old, her talents did not go unnoticed. In an interview at the conclusion of her record-setting three-year-old season, trainer Scott McEneny stated:

“We watched her race last summer and we really liked her. Mr. Grant wanted something to race in the OSS and on the Jockey Club circuit, and she seemed a perfect fit.”

She was turned over to a then-just-28-year-old Scott McEneny, who managed her highly successful three-year-old campaign like a seasoned veteran. With driver Dave Wall usually in the sulky, Daisy Harbor's O.S.S. season began in late May with a victory at Belleville’s Quinte Raceway, and concluded on November 16 as she romped to a commanding 10-length victory at Windsor Raceway to complete her 13-for-13 season.

Daisy’s earnings in the 1991 Sires Stakes competition totaled $111,487 in what was referred to as her dream season. Overall, she scored 19 wins in 29 season starts, earning a grand total of $203,000 — with one more start remaining when these stats were published.

Daisy Harbor is shown in a winning effort for driver Dave Wall.

The O.S.S. season can be grueling and long, touching down in many places across the province. The filly’s new connections were pleased that she had been lightly raced at two, and thus felt she would be ready for a fairly strenuous 1991 campaign. She certainly rose to the occasion and had a tremendous sophomore season.

She scored victory after victory and saw quite a bit of the province in the process. As mentioned, she started her undefeated season on May 20 at Belleville. Next came another win at Greenwood, followed by a strong performance at Leamington’s Sun Parlour Raceway, where she took a new lifetime mark of 1:57.1, setting a new standard for all ages of colts and fillies at the small track. It quickly became clear that she was on a roll.

After Leamington, she reeled off five more straight O.S.S. wins at various locations. She lowered her mark to 1:55.2 back at Greenwood. Around that time, she also traveled to Lexington in late September, where she posted her historic clocking of 1:53.3. After returning home, she continued her winning ways in O.S.S. competition at London. Two more trips to the winner’s circle, and two more O.S.S. trophies, followed.

In her second-last O.S.S. start at Flamboro, she “ran away and hid,” as the old racing saying goes, finishing 11 lengths ahead of her nearest rival. That left one more test at Windsor to see if she could complete her perfect season. Observers believed her streak might be in jeopardy, as Armbro Justify, another top filly, had drawn the rail. But on November 16, Daisy Harbor completed her historic season — and did it in convincing style, finishing 10 lengths ahead of the second-place finisher.

Following the victory, her young trainer Scott McEneny proudly stated:

“She thrives on racing. She is as fresh now as she has been all season. Without a doubt, Daisy is the best horse I have ever trained.”

Daisy Harbor was an outstanding performer on the track, but she was even more productive and successful as a broodmare. From 12 foals, she produced 7 winners — 1 in 1:50, 6 in 2:00, and 4 in 1:55. Her first foal was an outstanding colt (pictured below) who became a world champion. He was a foal of 1996, and in just 22 lifetime starts, he won 10 races and $1,452,000, taking a record of 1:49.3.

What was this horse’s name? A clue: He was named as a slight variation of a two-word title of a long-running TV show.

O.S.S. Trivia

When Daisy Harbor went undefeated through the entire 1991 O.S.S. season, she became the first female performer to achieve that feat. What horse and driver had achieved it previously?

Quote for the Week: “Whisky is by far the most popular of all remedies that won't cure a cold.” — Jerry Vale

Who Is It?

Can you correctly identify some or all of the people—including the driver—pictured above? This one dates back to 1984.

Who Else Is It?

This photo was taken “a while back,” let’s say. The gentleman at the horse’s head recently celebrated a milestone birthday (aren’t they all milestones after about 21?). He marked the occasion with a win on Saturday, July 12th — his birthday. He is currently training two horses.

Who is this fellow? And as a bonus, can you identify the young lad in the sulky seat back then at Orangeville?

These two “boys” take pride in the fact that they’ve been almost lifelong friends.

(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)