Colebrook farms - Simply in Front

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John Burness, owner of Ontario's successful breeding and stallion operation Colebrook Farms in Bridge, celebrated another big win by his filly Simply in Front on Kentucky Derby day, May 4.

This time, the amazing turf filly won the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) in her 2024 season debut, charging to the front in the latest to win by a neck in 1:35.46. Luis Suez rode Simply in Front and the filly's U.S. trainer is Eddie Kennelled.

“She is something special,' said Burness the following day as he was transporting horses to and from Woodbine. “I have never raced a horse on a big day like Kentucky Derby day. That was just huge.”

The fact that it was raining heavily in Louisville and with an expected crowd of some 140,000, Burness elected to stay home and cheer his Kentucky bred filly from his Bridge farm.

“Luis Suez knows her and rides her well,” said Burness, who has been an integral part of the Ontario breeding industry for some 45 years.

Burness, with the help of bloodstock agent and friend Richard Hogan, purchased Simply in Front (Summer Front) for $115,000 from the 2022 Keen eland September yearling sale.

“We are always looking for fillies and we knew she had a heck of a [female] family.”

Simply in Front was second in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes as a 2-year-old at Woodbine and then won her maiden, all for Colebrook's trainer Patrick Dixon. As an American bred, the filly went south to compete in turf races and last summer won the $1.7 million Kentucky Downs' Music City Stakes (G2).

Thanks to Simply in Front, Colebrook had its biggest year by purse earnings in 2024 at $1.9 million.

And Burness did something last fall he has always talked about doing -  he went with Hogan to Ireland bought a filly. At the Goff Orly yearling sale last fall, Burness purchased a flashy chestnut filly named Unforgettable Face (GB) for $162,366 (US). She is currently in training in Ireland.

Also last fall Burness bought an Ontario bred Country House yearling filly for $180,000 from Concreteness Stable.. The filly is named Ashlee B for Burness' late daughter.

Burness hopes that he can help new owners to get involved in ownership in Ontario. “The best bang for your buck in racing here is getting into the Ontario sired and Ontario bred program. It's great for breeders and for owners.”

Burness said there is nothing like the excitement of owning a racehorse, or share of a horse, especially when it comes to race day. “I get excited when my horses cross the finish line in frontbut we are always optimistic about all our horses.”

Don't forget to check out the 'Ownership' tab on the HBPA Ontario website to learn how to get involved.

You can get in touch with Colebrook Farm and Burness at www.colebrookfarms.com.