Jimmy Freight Stakes set for Saturday

MILTON, October 6, 2023—Woodbine Mohawk Park has set the field for Saturday’s (Oct. 7) inaugural Jimmy Freight Stakes in partnership with Adriano Sorella, and in recognition of the outstanding harness racing pacer Jimmy Freight (Sportswriter).

The event is open to any two-year-old colt, gelding or filly sired by Jimmy Freight, with no nomination fee or starting fee required. The Jimmy Freight Stakes is the first of its kind as the only Standardbred race restricted to the offspring of one stallion.

“It is very important to me that those who supported Jimmy and spent their money to breed, raise, buy, and train his sons and daughters are rewarded”, says Adriano Sorella, who now shares ownership of Jimmy Freight with Let It Ride Stable, Robert Cooper Stables LLC, Jesmeral Stable, and Howard Taylor. Richard Moreau trains.

Jimmy Freight has $1.9 million in earnings and a lifetime mark of 1:48.1. The 8-year-old bay won an O’Brien Award in 2018 as a 3-year-old, the year he notably won an OSS Gold Super Final. A consistent competitor, Jimmy Freight won the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup in both 2019 and 2022.

Jimmy Freight stood at Winbak Farms in 2020, at the same time an injury kept him off the track for the year. Fifteen of Jimmy Freight’s twenty-four offspring have made one or more starts. Eight of them are set to race in Saturday’s Jimmy Freight Stakes.

Morning line favourite Resilience has won 3 of 5 lifetime starts, including an OSS Gold leg on August 15, 2023. The 2-year-old, trained by Eric Nadeau, has a promising future.

“We’re pretty confident with the filly (Resilience). She’s been feeling good all season and comes into this race sharp”, says driver Louis-Philippe Roy, who has driven Resilience in each of her starts.

Roy also drives Jimmy Freight, who will make his 82^nd start in the ninth race on Saturday night, following some time away from the track.

“We can tell he’s getting older with a few issues, but with a huge desire to win. We’ll see how he handles the return to the races. I hope he stays healthy, and if not, I hope they’re able to improve his fertility and stand as a stud again. From the few of his offspring I have had the chance to work with, I know they are professionals, and they love the work and the competition”.

Below is the field for the $100,000 Jimmy Freight Stakes

Post Position – Horse – ​ Driver – Trainer – ​ Morning Line Odds – Sire/Dam

1 – Mr Ya Ya Ya – Sylvain Filion – C Beelby – 15-1 – (Jimmy Freight/Sweet Brown)

2 – Gladiator S Bg – Trevor Henry – F Dumouchel – 15-1 (Jimmy Freight/Sand Gesture) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

3 – Freight Air – Jody Jamieson – J Darling – 6-1 – (Jimmy Freight/Walk On Air)​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

4 – Cowboy Cargo – Phil Hudon – T Alagna – 5-2 – (Jimmy Freight/Bunkhouse Babe)

5 – Resilience – Louis-Philippe Roy – E Nadeau – 7-5 – (Jimmy Freight/Mia Seelster) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

6 – Roll On Myway – Beau Brown – B Brown – 15-1 – (Jimmy Freight/Pro Bowl Best)

7 – Porters Man – Tyler Borth – S Kerwood – 5-1 – (Jimmy Freight/No More Baggage)

8 – Rocket Freight – James Macdonald – C Mitchell – 8-1 (Jimmy Freight/Dazzling Rockette)

Post time on Saturday is 7:10 p.m. The Jimmy Freight Stakes is the 8^th race of the evening.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Grace Martin, for Woodbine Entertainment Group