Johnny Bear was risked for a $40,000 tag as recently as last October, but that didn't stop him from upsetting heavy favorite and European invader Hawkbill by a nose in the GI Northern Dancer S. at Woodbine Saturday.
Tracking the pace in third as Hawkbill brought the field through a measured six furlongs in 1:16.51, Johnny Bear slid up the rail and paused momentarily in search of running room on the far turn. Patiently handled, the gelding gained momentum coming off the turn, angled out and reached even terms with the favorite in midstretch. Hawkbill found more, and the pair did battle in the final furlong, but it was Johnny Bear who got the best of the tight win photo.
“I had faith in this horse, right from the beginning, and I didn't give up on him,” said John Brnjas, whose Colebrook Farms co-owns the winner–who is in turn trained by his daughter, Ashlee.
Johnny Bear entered the race off a course-and-distance win in the restricted Halton S. Aug. 30. The Northern Dancer marked his second foray into graded stakes company, following a fifth-place effort in the 2015 GIII Singspiel S. on the local main track.
“When we got him he was a nice horse, but he was the equivalent of a marshmallow,” said Ashlee Brnjas. “It took a long time for him to develop, and we stuck it out, and it was the right decision.”
Pedigree Notes:
A $278,000 yearling purchase at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale, the winner is a full-brother to Breeders' S. hero Channel Maker, while his second dam Bartered Bride (Shadeed) is herself a half to GISW Auntie Mame (Theatrical {Ire}) and Star de Lady Ann (Star de Naskra). In Return, who established a course record in her lone stakes win at Monmouth, produced a filly by Court Vision in 2016.
Saturday, Woodbine
NORTHERN DANCER TURF S.-GI, C$340,800, WO, 9-16, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:27.30, fm.
1–@&JOHNNY BEAR, 119, g, 6, by English Channel
1st Dam: In Return (SW), by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
2nd Dam: Bartered Bride, by Shadeed
3rd Dam: Lady Vixen, by Sir Ivor
(C$275,000 Ylg '12 CANSEP). O-Colebrook Farms & Bear
Stables Ltd.; B-Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T-Ashlee Brnjas; J-Luis
Contreras. C$216,000. Lifetime Record: 33-7-7-5, $487,214.
*Full to Channel Maker, MSW & MGSP, $371,453. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”ontario-bred-sold”]2–Hawkbill, 123, c, 4, Kitten's Joy–Trensa, by Giant's Causeway.
($350,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Godolphin; B-Helen K. Groves
Revocable Trust (KY); T-Charles Appleby. C$60,000.[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”]3–Messi (Ger), 121, g, 7, New Approach (Ire)–Messina (Ger), by
Dashing Blade (GB). (€80,000 RNA Ylg '11 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut
Brummerhof (GER); T-H. Graham Motion. C$30,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: HD, 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 9.10, 0.60, 3.10.
Also Ran: Seeking Albert, English Illusion, Noble Thought, Pumpkin Rumble, Camp Creek.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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