Ontario Sired Heritage Series starts with Georgian Bay, Lake Huron

A pair of stakes, the $100,000 Georgian Bay and $100,000 Lake Huron, mark the start of this year’s Ontario Sired Heritage Series, Sunday at Woodbine.

All three legs and the final are contested at different distances over three surfaces: the Woodbine inner turf, the Woodbine main track, and Fort Erie dirt track.

The Georgian Bay, a 5-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies over the inner turf, has attracted seven sophomores, including Money Heist.

A daughter of Signature Red out of the Ghostzapper mare Socially Distant, Money Heist, trained by John Mattine, has struck bronze in each of her first three starts.

Owned by RCC Racing Stable Ltd., the chestnut filly arrives at her first stakes test off a third-place performance at 5 furlongs over the Woodbine main track on Apr. 19. ​ ​

“She got a little sick last year, but we got her back on track,” said Mattine. “We’ve been very impressed at how she keeps getting better and better each race.”

Money Heist launched her career on Nov. 22, where she dropped back slightly at the 5/16th pole before coming back in mid-stretch to finish third, 4 ½ lengths behind the winner in the 5 ½-furlong sprint.

“She got into a little bit of trouble, but she was beaten by two winter-trained horses,” said Mattine. “I thought she ran a bang-up race. She is improving each start and I’m hoping that the fourth time might be the charm. I’ve always liked her.”

In her final 2-year-old start, on Dec. 6, Money Heist, bred by Norseman Racing Stables Inc., was angled to the fence with a furlong to go and finished with vigor to sew up third spot in the seven-horse field.

“It was another good effort from her,” recalled Mattine. “She came along the inside and wasn’t intimidated by it. I thought it was another example of how she was maturing and how she was developing. We were very happy with the performance, but also in the way she went about it.”

Mattine, off to a strong start on the season, is looking forward to his young pupil’s first turf test and first stakes appearance.

“I think she will race well on the turf. Her action is very smooth. I always think a horse with that type of action will take to the turf. She is a not a big, oversized filly. She is compact and well put together. She is well-balanced, too.” ​ ​ ​

Seven 3-year-olds will contest the Lake Huron, also run at 5 furlongs on the inner turf.

Wine After Whiskey, riding a two-race win streak, will test out the grass and stakes ranks for the first time on Sunday.

A son of Reload out of the Kentucky Bear mare Bear Kitty, the gelding heads into the Lake Huron off consecutive wins, including a gritty maiden-breaking performance on Dec. 14 to close out his 2-year-old campaign.

Bet down to 4-5, Wine After Whiskey was hustled to the lead in the 6-furlong maiden special weight race and then dug in for a neck victory in 1:12.05.

“I was hoping he would win and we were pretty certain that he could,” said trainer Michelle Love, who co-bred the chestnut with Heather Stringer and co-owns with Mentec Mississauga Industrial Equipment Ltd. and Kathey Biers. “He is such a nice mover and he is naturally fast. He was very game and showed a lot of determination in that first race.”

The milestone came after a debut second at 5 ½ panels over the Woodbine main track on Nov. 23.

“We were supposed to go into an Ontario-sired race for his first start,” said Love. “But it didn’t go and we ended up in a maiden special weight. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I thought he would run well and he did. He is fast and he always showed speed in the morning.”

Wine After Whiskey made his 3-year-old debut a winning one, when he romped to a 4 ½-length victory as the 6-5 choice in a 5 ½ furlong main track sprint on May 15.

“He impressed me a lot,” said Love. “When he pulled away from the other horses and the manner in which he did it, I thought it was an excellent effort.

“Late in his 2-year-old year, we knew had talent. When he started working from the gate, he really put things together. And he had a really good winter. He matured quite a bit mentally and filled out nicely. He loves to race and he’s such a happy kid. Whenever I walk past him, he’s screaming for his food. He just seems to like everything about being a racehorse and he’s great to be around.”

Love expects the gelding to take well to the inner turf and tougher competition.

“He has a lot of natural talent. I am confident in him because that’s what he gives you.”