Bruno No No No said ‘Yes’ to early 2026 success
by Melissa Keith
On Saturday (April 11), Bruno No No No paced to the fastest mile of his career and the early 2026 North American racing season. The 4-year-old son of All Bets Off—Winbak Alice was competing in his first open pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park, in his fifth start since joining trainer Dave Menary’s stable. The 1:48.1 mile was an eye-catching two-move trip for driver Doug McNair. Bruno No No No worked to clear pacesetter Saulsbrook Victor past the :26.1 opening quarter and then overtook Menary stablemate Brue Hanover late in a stretch duel.
Bruno No No No (p, 4, 1:48.1s; $160,002) is now the fastest performer sired by All Bets Off; the fastest of his dam’s 10 offspring; and the fastest horse foaled and raised at Jesse and Katie Belore’s Princeton Farms of Princeton, ON. The 4-year-old stallion was bred by Seelster Farms of Lucan, ON; dam Winbak Alice was sold while carrying the colt and joined the Princeton Farms broodmare band in Nov. 2021. The 21-year-old mare is owned by Connor and Sawyer Belore, the children of Jesse and Katie, for a specific reason.
“When I was a kid, a family friend bought her [Winbak Alice’s] granddam, Misty Dallas, for me and my sister as young kids,” Jesse said. “Her second foal was Lady Camella, [Winbak] Alice’s mom. I already owned another mare from that family. When she was advertised, we bought her for our kids. As soon as I saw the ad, I called Ann [Straatman] at Seelster. What a great way to go full circle.”
Winbak Alice was sold by Seelster Farms, which also stands Bruno No No No’s sire All Bets Off.
Bruno No No No began his racing career on June 8, 2024 in a qualifier at Mohawk for trainer Gabriella Sasso and driver Bob McClure. Finishing fourth, he qualified again on June 14, ending up third. Bruno No No No made breaks in his first two starts, the Tompkins Geers stake and Ontario Sires Stakes Gold leg 1, both at Mohawk.
The former $35,000 London Classic yearling started his racing days for owners Jeff Courchesne of Cambridge, ON, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, ON, and Tony Aarts of Putnam, ON. Courchesne is Sasso’s husband; Martwest is an ownership partner which has often owned up to 50 per cent of their racehorses.
“It was Gabby [Sasso] who bought ‘Bruno’ at the sale,” Jesse said. “She was tied to Lady Shadow [p, 5, 1:48.1s; $2,029,469].”
That daughter of Lady Camella captured divisional titles as 2014 O’Brien 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year, 2015 O’Brien Older Pacing Mare of the Year, and 2016 Dan Patch and O’Brien Older Pacing Mare of the Year. Sasso was her caretaker.
Bruno No No No was a surprising bargain as a yearling.
“He was a hunk of a horse,” Jesse said. “We loved him, right from day one. He always had this big presence.”
Sasso said Courchesne shared his regard for the colt.
“She saw Bruno for what he was at the sale… They came out to the farm two or three times to see him as a yearling,” Sasso said.
The reason for Bruno No No No’s disappointing pari-mutuel debut appeared to be physical.
“I believe he fractured a bone, a hairline crack at age 2, just after qualifying,” Jesse said. “Lots of credit to Dave [Menary], but Gabby and Jeff really took their time with him. After his 2-year-old year he actually came back to us, between his 2- and 3-year-old year [to heal and mature].”
The whole family welcomed back the colt with the distinctive name and personality.
“Connor, our son, loved the Disney movie ‘Encanto,’” Jesse told HRU on Saturday (April 25).
The song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was featured in the popular 2021 film; its chorus includes the phrase “Bruno no no no.” Naming Winbak Alice’s colt for the song made sense to her young co-owner.
“It was a snapshot in time of what movie [Connor] liked at the time,” Jesse said.
Bruno No No No did not qualify again until Oct. 10, 2024, but he returned as an off-the-pace maiden winner on Oct. 24 in the first leg of the 2024 Harvest Series for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Two starts later, he and McClure prevailed by a head in the Nov. 7 Harvest Series final.
“We’ve been following Bruno very closely since he was sold,” Jesse said. “He wasn’t dirty, but just really full of himself. Obviously, they’ve kept him a stud. He’s a great big loveable goofball.”
Bruno No No No showed promise, but had not shown signs of reaching his peak until this season.
“I think he had a lot of bad luck at 3, and just couldn’t find his footing until the end of the season,” Jesse said. “He’s showcasing his talent now. In other hands at 2 and 3, he might not be the horse he is today.”
Bruno started his sophomore season in May 2025, qualifying twice at Mohawk before making his comeback in OSS Gold leg 1 on May 24, finishing sixth. After a May 31 victory in non-stakes company, the colt dropped into OSS Grassroots and went winless until Oct. 16.
“He’s quite a looker on the track,” so even in the absence of high-profile stakes wins, Bruno No No No was attracting fans.
One of them was Dave Menary, who trained 2025 O’Brien Older Pacing Horse of the Year, Ervin Hanover. “I know for a fact that Bruno is the only horse that he’s ever asked [William] Pollack to buy,” Jesse said.
Bruno No No No changed hands for an undisclosed sum that Jesse called “an offer too good to refuse.” As of Jan. 12, 2026, the stallion began racing for Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, PA, currently the top owner at Woodbine Mohawk Park by wins and earnings this year.
After being scratched sick on Jan. 10, 2026 at Mohawk, Bruno No No No has put together a stellar season worthy of the star on his forehead. He is four-for-five this season, winning the first leg and April 4 final of the New Holland Pacing Series in the lead-up to his best-yet performance in the April 11 Mohawk open. This weekend, Bruno is taking a rare Saturday night off. He is sustained to the upcoming Grade 2 Charles Juravinski Memorial, with eliminations at Flamboro Downs on May 10, and the Grade 1 Canadian Pacing Derby, slated for Sept. 5 at Mohawk.
Bruno No No No is the “now” horse that everybody is talking about, but Jesse has learned that every overnight success is actually the product of generations. For him, it’s all about family, both human and equine.
“It all started with a Dallas Almahurst mare as the granddam,” he said with a smile. “I’ve always been partial to the family. Bruno’s granddam was the first horse I ever owned.”
