With the February 15 stakes nominations deadline approaching, a new race for Ontario Sired three-year-old colts and geldings has caught the eye of owners and trainers mapping their sophomore’s routes for 2022.
The SBOA Stakes has traditionally been contested for Ontario Sired three-year-old fillies, but that changes this May with the addition of SBOA Stakes for Ontario sired three-year-old colts and geldings, both pacers and trotters.
“Between our team, COSA and the SBOA, we were all aligned that this made sense to add SBOA Stakes divisions for colts and geldings,” said Bill McLinchey, Director of Standardbred Racing for Woodbine. “The SBOA Stakes have been very successful for the fillies and with the race returning to its usual spot in May, this will offer a good early season event for Ontario sired three-year-olds to race for good money.”
Woodbine has made a few amendments to the usual staking process to get the SBOA for colts and geldings off the ground in 2022.
“The races for fillies requires horses to be nominated as yearlings and that obviously wouldn’t work to get the colt races started immediately,” said McLinchey. “February 15 is the date to nominate for this year and next year’s editions of the SBOA for colts and geldings. We’ll then link up the colt races with the fillies for the 2024 edition by requiring the usual yearling nomination payment this May.”
The nomination fee for this year’s SBOA Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings is $300, while nominating for the 2023 event is $200.
The eliminations for this year’s SBOA Stakes will be contested Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, while all finals will be held on Saturday, May 21. All eliminations will go for a guaranteed purse of $25,000, while the finals will have $50,000 in added money.
Nominations close on Tuesday, February 15 for the 2022 and 2023 SBOA Stakes for Ontario sired three-year-old colts and geldings. The full conditions for the SBOA and all Woodbine stakes can be viewed in the 2022 Stakes Booklet.
Nomination fees can be paid online on Woodbine's website or through SC Stakes Online.
If sending nominations by mail, envelopes must be clearly post-marked no later than February 15, 2022 or payment will not be accepted. Registered mail is recommended.
(Woodbine)