Canadian-based The Stable looks to make a second home in Ohio

The fractional ownership group won three OHSS events this week and looks forward to more.

by Jay Wolf

When Canadian trainers Anthony and Amy MacDonald launched The Stable in 2015, the fractional ownership group took the industry by storm. During the opening days of the 2-year-old stakes season, The Stable looks to take Ohio racing by storm.

Friday night he won a $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) event for freshman trotting fillies when he drive Twinsburg to victory in 1:54.4 at Scioto Downs. During Wednesday’s Independence Day matinee at the Columbus, OH track, Anthony guided the 2-year-old colt See You In Tuscany to a 1:53 victory in the $40,000 opening leg of the OHSS.

The We Will See colt was sent out as the second choice, but proved to be the best when he unleashed a strong move just past the half and took the lead from the pacesetting Bombay Hanover just before the three-quarter mile mark. See You In Tuscany cruised home to score a 3 ¼ length win.

“I used him a little harder in the third quarter than I probably even needed to,” said Anthony. “I thought Dan (Noble’s) horse (Bombay Hanover) caught a little bit of a breather and I thought I would take a run at him.

“He drove away down the lane. He didn’t let up and paced right into the turn after the wire. You can’t ask for anything more than that from a 2-year-old.

“He has a big engine in him and he loves to race. He knows what is there to do. He’s tenacious.”

The OHSS win was See You In Tuscany’s first score in two career starts. His first start was a solid second-place effort at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he was timed in 1:56.2, with a last quarter in :26.3.

“This colt is an odd story. We trained down 57 babies and (See You In Tuscany) was really around 40th (best) all year. He was just in the mix,” said Anthony. “Somebody asked me the other day, ‘When did you know the he had talent?’ I said, ‘Honestly, right around the 5/8 pole of his qualifier (won by six lengths in 1:55.4 on June 9). He certainly was a pleasant surprise.”

The Ohio Sires Stake action got underway on Monday (July 2) at Northfield Park with the freshmen colt trotters and The Stable sent four postward, earning a win and a pair of third-place finishes.

In the first $40,000 division, Anthony eased Oh So Pine off the gate and sat a patient fifth through much of the mile, making his move at the three-quarter pole. After going a little wide in the final turn, Oh So Pine gathered himself and sprinted home in :28.4 to win by ¾ of a length.

“He is an incredibly talented colt. He’s got a big, big turn of foot. He has big speed and can carry it a long distance,” said the 41 year-old native of Prince Edward Island. “I thought that I had them collared in the far turn, but then he kind of blew the turn…just being green.”

Oh So Pine is the gelded son of first crop sire Uncle Peter and is out of the mare Pine Potion. The unraced mare has already produced a pair of rich performers, Sundown Bob ($517,561) and Bullet ($303,500).

The $13,000 purchase is now two-for-two on the season.

With 17 Buckeye bred two-year-olds, the MacDonalds will be looking to spend a lot of time in Ohio this summer.

“We love Ohio….we have a lot of clients that travel down here to watch the races. We have a lot of clients from here. It should be a really fun summer here in Ohio.”