Trot Insider has learned that two of Atlantic Canada's top performers of the past season will be headed to Ontario to continue their careers as older competitors.
According to owner Frank Brundle, both Woodmere Stealdeal and Mystifying are headed west from the half-mile tracks of the Maritimes that both pacers dominated over the past season.
Woodmere Stealdeal, in fact, dominated Atlantic Canada over the past two seasons. The son of Steelhead Hanover - Very Ideal Hanover posted a sensational summary of 21-6-1 in 28 starts — including a perfect 13-win rookie campaign — along with $147,869 and a mark of 1:52.1h for trainer Danny Romo and co-owners Kevin Dorey, Glenn MacDonald, Brundle and Bob Sumarah.
Brundle noted that the horse would be arriving imminently at the stable of trainer Carmen Auciello.
"We're going to hopefully race the horse up here in Ontario. I don't think we're going to take him to Yonkers," indicated Brundle, noting that they have options but the intent is to race at Woodbine Mohawk Park. "We may take him to Yonkers because he's a half-mile machine, but we're only going to race him up here for the summer."
Looking down the road, the connections are hopeful that Woodmere Stealdeal would be in a position to return to Atlantic Canada for a special appearance next summer.
"Our goal is to take him back there for the Gold Cup & Saucer [in 2022] and just freak out the fans. They would love it."
Woodmere Stealdeal has attracted quite a following in his two seasons. In fact, Brundle noted the connections had originally considered bringing the sophomore pacer to Ontario before his start this past Sunday at Truro Raceway.
"I kind of got a lump in my throat when they said ‘Do you mind if we race him one more time? Because the fans would love to see Woodmere Stealdeal race one more time.’ He’s a fan favourite. Me and my daughter went down there back in October in the [Atlantic] Breeders Crown, and we got to take a picture with him. But just the crowd of people cheering him when he comes up to the winner’s circle; when he’s going by them, people are just cheering and they just love it. It's a treat."
Brundle, a longtime horse owner who joined the ownership on Woodmere Stealdeal this past August, has high hopes for the Maritime phenom that has prompted comparisons to a number of pacers that have performed extremely well in Atlantic Canada. Some of those horses haven't been able to step up to the stiffer challenge of racing in Ontario or stateside. There have been horses like The Rev who have gone on to bigger and better things after leaving the East coast, and Brundle thinks Woodmere Stealdeal has that level of potential.
"I'm really excited for this horse coming to Ontario [and] racing up here with the big boys and seeing what he's made of. I'm ecstatic about it."
Woodmere Stealdeal could still see action later this year, with Brundle indicating that a race at Mohawk in early December isn't out of the question.
Joining Woodmere Stealdeal on that trip to Ontario from the Maritimes is pacing filly Mystifying, who notched her 13th win of the season in the $16,112 filly division of Donnie & George Turner Memorial Stakes on Sunday at Truro.
Canada's winningest three-year-old pacer so far this year, Mystifying (Source Of Pride - Dreaming) has earned more than $75,000 through 19 starts this year, with only a pair of off-the-board finishes for trainer Darryl MacLean and co-owners Gordon MacLean and Stephen Downey. Brundle told Trot Insider that a deal was reached for him to purchase the filly with Glenn MacDonald. The details of the sale were not disclosed.