"He was flawless and sure of himself, he looked so confident. He left people in awe."
Up The Alley didn’t spend much time in his stall in Peninsula Farm’s consignment at the Canadian Yearling Sale last year. Hip #98 was a fan favourite, admired and coveted by many. His impressive pedigree on paper brought buyers to his stall and his massive presence made them stay.
The son of Muscle Mass is a full brother to Muscle Matters, a shining star in Ben Baillargeon’s barn and a 2013 O’Brien Award finalist. Now three, the colt holds a lifetime best of 1:55.4 and nearly $250,000 in career earnings. Bred by Reg and Donna Higgs of Denfield, Ontario, the pairing was no lucky guess. With extensive research early on, a share was purchased in anticipation that Muscle Mass would be the next big thing. Pleased with the colt foaled by Sister Mary Lindy, a second share was purchased, this time producing Up The Alley.
A strong believer in having plenty of Valley Victory in the bloodlines, Reg Higgs found his promising young broodmare in the Meadowlands Mixed Sale seven years ago. The days leading up to the January sale presented devastating winter weather, leading officials to recommend the public to stay off the roads and at home.
“We decided we would just drive to Buffalo and see how it went. We thought we might as well head down a little further and before you know it, we were halfway down the New Jersey turnpike and pulling into The Meadowlands.”
Disappointed by her two-year-old season, Lindy Racing Stable didn’t believe Sister Mary Lindy was Grand Circuit material and placed her in the sale. The Higgs brought her home and bred her immediately.
“Her first, the Striking Sahbra, looked very promising as a two year old and then suffered an injury. She’s difficult to keep in foal, but the ones she has produced have all been worth it.”
The Higgs are committed to producing yearlings that good trainers will want and are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure all goes well when they leave their care.
“We make sure the foal has everything in gestation, all minerals, all trace elements. When the foal is born, we make sure they have regular hoof trimming every six weeks leading up to sale time so there’s never an uneven step. So far we’ve had good results and good comments from trainers.”
Vic Hayter, who purchased Up The Alley for $70,000 as the Canadian Yearling Sale topper, was impressed with what he saw that day at Flamboro Downs.
“He was big and bold, he looked like he was already a racehorse. He’s grown into himself a little since, he’s a bit gawky mentally but he’s getting smarter.”
Heading to Mohawk on July 5 to qualify, the colt raced an intelligent mile, smoothly navigating the break in stride of the horse in front of him. With Steve Condren at the lines, Up The Alley was driven to victory, clocking his mile in 2:04.2.
“Condren does a great job with them; he sits in and teaches them how to beat a horse.”
Hayter will be trucking to Georgian Downs with his potential superstar in tow for the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event this Saturday. Drawing the eight hole in the first race on the card, his first pari-mutuel test fast approaches.
“He’s two or three weeks behind where I would like him to be, ideally. We are starting with Grassroots in hopes of helping him find his trot; I’m hoping he will make it into Gold eventually.”
With his brother Muscle Matters' impressive record to live up to, it’s too early to predict how this season will go.
“Anything can happen with a baby colt, but if he stays upright and behaves, he will be around. I didn’t know much about Muscle Matters until I spoke to Ben; he’s a bigger horse. He’s got the physical and mental ability to be just as good.”
Hoping for success, the Higgs have another full brother to the pair at home. Almost identical to Up The Alley, they are keeping their fingers crossed for the future of this mating.
“Up The Alley is a big strong colt and I think he’ll go quite nicely. There’s no predicting it, but he’s got the attitude. He doesn’t want to lose.”
Up The Alley is one of two Muscle Mass colts making an OSS debut on Saturday night for the Hayters, also sending out Gronk in the sixth race of the night. Leaving from post position four, the $26,000 Canadian Yearling Sale purchase heads into the card with two qualifiers under his belt.
“My staff tells me Gronk is the perfect horse. He never puts a foot wrong, never done anything wrong ever. These two are different colts for sure, but Condren taught them how to race. We will see how it all pans out.”
To view the entries for Saturday's card of harness racing at Georgian Downs, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Georgian Downs.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)