Ontario Prospect Series kicks off at Flamboro

The opening Prospect Series legs for 3-year-olds — two divisions each for male and female pacers; one each for trotters of each sex — will take place Saturday (May 21) at Flamboro Downs. Two 2021 Prospect Series Finals winners headline the fields: 2-year-old trotting colt Sir Ballykeel and 2-year-old pacing filly Sauble Amber.

Sir Ballykeel (Il Sogno Dream) is a homebred for Ballykeel Racing. He won a Prospect Series leg, posted a record of 0-1-1 in four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots starts, and won the Prospect Series final to earn over $29,000 in his 2-year-old campaign. The Josh McKibbin trainee has made four starts in 2022 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and hit the board once.

“I think he’s coming good right now. I’ve been happy with the way he’s been racing at Mohawk,” said McKibbin. “He’s had some easy fractions in the first half and he’s been closing great. He has a good turn of foot.”

McKibbin is a big fan of the racing opportunities the Prospect Series offers. He had Sir Ballykeel’s brother Los Ballykeelamigo move from OSS Grassroots to the Prospect Series in 2020, where he won four legs before breaking stride in the final.

“I really like the Prospect Series. Sir Ballykeel won at two last year, and that was big for him,” said McKibbin. “Then, for his older brother, it really helped his racing career. He was able to gain some confidence and it’s nice to have a third option.”