RACING CORNER – Fast start for Owner/Trainer John Ross
- HBPA
- May 9
- 3 min read
RACING CORNER – May 9, 2025
There were smiles for miles after Its Time to Shine won an allowance/optional claiming race on May 4 at Woodbine for trainer John Ross, who co-owns the speedy colt with partner Cathy Wong, Rijack Stable and Jim Aston. Ross and Wong own 50 percent of the Souper Speedy colt who was well prepared by Ross and his team to win his season debut by leading all the way and speeding six furlongs in 1:10.72. It was the second straight win (dating back to December) for Its Time to Shine and third of his career.
Its Time to Shine was the third winner from five starters for Ross in 2025, following allowance winners Junior Hot Shot, owned by T and T Racing, and maiden winner Awe Inspired, owned by T and T racing and P413 Stable.
“Being a smallish stable, you have to get going early,' said Ross, who is in his 37th season as a trainer. “I know my bank manager is relaxing a bit more now.”
Jokes aside, Ross is one of this country's top horsemen with 620 and dozens of champions and stakes winners to his credit. He is also considered one of the best for picking out a horse at auction. Its Time to Shine was scooped up by Ross from the 2022 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale
for $40,000. The following year his colt's older half brother, Paramount Prince, won the King's Plate.
“I just loved Its Time to Shine's conformation. Paramount Prince hadn't won anything yet but I love offspring of Souper Speedy, the sire of Its Time to Shine.”
Ross noted that him and his staff were in the Woodbine barn area as soon as the backstretch opened in late February and they have worked hard to prepare the stable for early races. “Winning those races made me feel better. We didn't go away at all this winter so being back at the track is like being on vacation.”
For Wong, you can hear the excitement of a new season, and an early win, in her voice.
“When Its Time to Shine won, it was overwhelming. We hoped he would be a better horse as he got older. And man it was a long winter.”
Two-Year-Old Racing Begins
The babies are back! The first race for juveniles is Sunday, May 11 at Woodbine with three colts and three fillies entered to sprint 4 1/2 furlongs in race 1.
Owners and trainers are always excited for the moment their young horses make their first start. For racing fans, it's fun to try and pick out a star of the future.
This weekend's race has starters for Abraham Katryan, Jamie Begg, Kevin Rice, Keith Edwards and Mark Casse.
Pedigree, trainer and workout times are factors to consider when trying to pick the winner of a race where all or most of the starters have never raced. The best bet is to utilize websites such as Equibase (for race records and results), trade sites that offer stallion statistics and your favourite handicapper who may offer some insight.
The two Ontario bred 2-year-olds in the field, the filly Sipping History, and the colt Casson, figure as contenders. Sipping History is by one of Ontario's all time leading sires, Old Forester, also a good 2-year-old sire. Trained by Jamie Begg, Sipping History has had above average workout times recently.
Casson is owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad and he comes from the powerful Mark Casse barn. Casson's sire Caravaggio, is a young stallion who has had a litany of debut winners in his young career.
Florida trainer Kevin Rice has shipped up the colt Judy Chop for this maiden race. This colt's exciting young sire is Curlin's Honor, who won the Woodstock and Connaught Stakes at Woodbine.
Jumping for Joy at Fort Erie
Fort Erie racetrack's 128th season begins in less than two weeks, Tuesday, May 27, and horsepeople can hardly contain their excitement.
Trainer and former jockey Sharon Ceccato was kicking up her heels much like her horses when photographed by Laurie Langley recently, Ceccato, who was sporting her HBPA Ontario sweatshirt, was tied for third in the standing at Fort Erie in 2020 with 16 wins.
Fort Erie's signature race is the Prince of Wales stakes, the second jewel of Canada's Triple Crown. The 90th edition of the Canadian classic will be run on September 9.
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