Manitoba’s Golden Boy champ moving east

Now that the harness racing schedule is over in Manitoba, it is time to reflect on some top performers. This year’s winner of the Golden Boy Final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings was Braxtons Boy (Whosurboy), who makes a solid case for a few awards, including Manitoba-Bred Horse of the Year.

The sophomore pacer started from humble beginnings in St. Claude, Manitoba and is the proud product of Richard and Janet Rey. The long-time members of the local racing community bred and continue to own the pacer. Richard Rey trained him during the 2023 season, and his son, Michel Rey, was given driving duties.

“He trained down really good as a two-year-old,” Michel Rey said. “We schooled him once in Miami (Manitoba) and then decided to shut him down. His last quarter times were always good training at home, and he showed that all year. I drove fairly conservatively in his first few starts, so he had a few second-place finishes that could have been won if I pushed him a bit harder, but the main goal was to prep him for stake season.”

The story behind the colt’s name is relatively simple, as he was named partly after his sire, Whosurboy and Michel Rey’s nearly 4-year-old son, Braxton. Both Braxtons are similar in age but also similar in temperament, according to Rey.

“He can be a troublemaker, but he has grown up over his last few starts,” said Rey. “While training at the farm, he was always full of himself. In the last few starts, he has been wearing earplugs and turning into a real racehorse. He also has had some spunk, which he has gotten that quality from his namesake, Braxton. All-in-all, he is a pretty sweet horse.”

Braxtons Boy didn’t waste time before getting his first career win. He booked a trip to the winner’s circle in his first career race and paced the mile in 2:06.1. He went on to win two of his first four starts and worked his personal best time to 2:04.4. He also finished second twice in his first four starts and, with this hot start, became one to watch during stake season. He asserted himself as one to keep an eye on when he won the Futurity elimination and shaved another full second off his lifetime mark.

FUTURITY STAKE ELIMATION REPLAY

Although he eventually won the Golden Boy Final, his effort in the first leg was the only blemish on his otherwise exemplary record. Braxtons Boy finished fourth that day but had an off day like many of us because he wasn’t quite feeling himself.  

“It was still fourth place, so it wasn’t that bad, but it was his only time not in the top three,” Rey added. “After that race, we did some blood work, and it came back that he was sick, so he got the next weekend off. He returned strong after the time off.”  

After taking a week off to regain his health, Braxtons Boy’s next event was the Manitoba Great Western Stakes. He did not get the win, but he raced well and was only beaten by the tough pacer, Handsome Dan. For context, Handsome Dan raced in several stake events in Alberta and earned his way into the Western Canadian Pacing Derby final. Braxtons Boy shouldn’t be too hard on himself for losing to Handsome Dan.

Braxtons Boy bounced back and won his last two races in Manitoba, which were the second leg and final of the Golden Boy Stakes. In the second leg heat, he put up his current lifetime mark of 2:02.1. After that, he paced a 2:03.2 mile in the final. 

GOLDEN BOY STAKE FINAL REPLAY

For many horses that race in Manitoba over the summer, once fall hits, it is time to rest up and wait for the next racing season. However, Braxtons Boy’s 2023 racing year is still ongoing, and he will dive into the deep waters of Woodbine Mohawk Park. He had a qualifying mile on Nov. 3, and he paced it in 1:57.3. Not too bad for the first time being on the bigger track surface, and he was able to put up his first sub-2:00 mile. He will draw into race ten on Nov. 11 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and line up along the rail. The expectations are relatively high on the colt as he transitions onto the bigger track.

“We got high hopes for him,” said Rey. “He has a quick turn of foot. We never had to use it this year, but he can come home in 28 to 29 seconds. He can carry speed. He can leave, or he can chase speed down the stretch. He needs to learn the speed. The long stretch is something he is going to need to get used to.”

Assuming Braxtons Boy takes after his sire, Whosurboy, then the Manitoba-bred pacer should be able to create a decent racing career. Whosurboy made his debut in June of 2000 and stepped off the track for the final time in December 2007. In that time, he made 267 starts and visited the winner’s circle on 48 occasions. He accumulated $1,861,455 and had a lifetime mark of 1:49, which he did at Woodbine Mohawk Park when it was still Mohawk Raceway.

The grandsire, Artsplace, earned over $3 million in 49 career starts and had a lifetime mark of 1:49.2. He went 16-for-16 during his final year of racing in 1992.

Braxtons Boy has the keys to success and will be given a prime opportunity to give it his best. He will have to sit and watch fellow St. Claude, Manitoba native Emmetts Buddy (In The Irons) and hopefully draw some inspiration.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink