Ontario-sired juveniles clash in Frost King, South Ocean stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Junior Hot Shot goes directly from his dazzling debut to Saturday’s $100,000 Frost King Stakes at Woodbine and should be well-backed in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Trained by John Ross, Junior Hot Shot was all the rage at first asking in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race for Ontario-sired and $40,000 stock Oct. 1. Bet down to 9-5 favoritism, he went straight to the front and widened his lead throughout to win by 6 1/2 lengths under Justin Stein. His time of 1:15.81 translated into a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I never get too cocky with any of my horses, but I knew for a long time that when this horse ran, he was going to be ready,” Ross said. “All the signs were there. When Justin came back to the winner’s circle, he said, ‘You’ve got yourself a racehorse on your hands.’

“The way the horse opened up down the lane, with that beautiful stride, he was great to watch.”

By Souper Speedy, Junior Hot Shot was a $55,000 buyback at the 2022 Canadian premier yearling sale. His dam is a full sister to Canadian champion sprinter Blonde Executive.

“We took a lot of time with him this spring,” Ross said. “He’s a gorgeous horse. He needed time to grow into himself. When the growth plates in his knees closed, we started breezing him, nice and easy. Each time we did, he impressed us and showed a lot of ability. But it was also his character that stood out. He does everything so cool.”

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Junior Hot Shot is adding Lasix and will break from post 2 under Stein.

The Frost King lured six others, including Olivia Rose, who was cross-entered in Saturday’s $100,000 South Ocean Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies.

Olivia Rose crushed maidens by 13 3/4 lengths with a 75 Beyer two back before a front-running second-place finish in the restricted Victorian Queen Stakes on the grass.

Among the others in the seven-horse South Ocean lineup are Hurricane Clair, Lady Wellington, and Fourfiftyfour.

Hurricane Clair graduated second time out in the restricted Muskoka Stakes, going the 6 1/2-furlong distance of the South Ocean. When changing surfaces most recently in the seven-furlong Victorian Queen, she finished a flat fourth in a five-horse field. Trainer Marty Drexler is adding blinkers to her equipment.

Lady Wellington had worked nicely prior to her opener, a 5 1/2-furlong Ontario-sired/$40,000 contest Sept. 23. After putting away a challenger for the early lead, she drew off in the stretch to score convincingly by 4 1/2 lengths.

Fourfiftyfour got a 73 Beyer when landing her debut versus open maiden special weight company July 29. Three weeks later, she failed to contend in the open Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the main turf, over which she wound up third most recently in the Victorian Queen.

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