Woodbine: Ultimate Destiny far exceeds Fehr's expectations

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ultimate Destiny completed a dream season for owner/trainer Alec Fehr by winning Wednesday night’s $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes at Woodbine with determination under Eurico Da Silva.

Ultimate Destiny, the 126-pound highweight in the field of Ontario-sired runners, conceded significant weight to his rivals, including favored Pender Harbour, who wound up third. It was Urban Forester who gave Ultimate Destiny all that he could handle in the 1 1/16-mile event, but he caught that 15-1 shot on the wire after kicking in strongly in the last furlong.

“I thought [Urban Forester] had gotten away on us, but he dug in, wanted to get to him,” Fehr said. “I’m so proud of him. Carrying nine pounds more than Pender Harbour, I was concerned about that, for sure. It didn’t matter to him. He didn’t know.”

Fehr bought Ultimate Destiny privately last fall near the end of the gelding’s productive 3-year-old campaign. This year, he counted three Ontario-sired stakes scores among his five wins, and banked nearly $360,000 in eight starts.

“He’s been such a nice horse, and much more than I could have ever dreamt of when I bought him,” Fehr said. “I was hoping for the Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-three and the [first-level] allowance. I was pretty confident he could win those, and then I’d be making money after that. What he’s done has been tremendous, and he’s been such a pleasure to train, because he’s not complicated.”

Ultimate Destiny could be a finalist in this year’s Sovereign Award voting for champion older male. Other contenders include the local divisional leader, Alpha Bettor, along with the British Columbia-based runners Herbie D and Commander.

Man Cave may run in Display

Man Cave was cross-entered in Saturday’s $125,000 Kingarvie and Sunday’s $125,000 Display, which are both stakes for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles. The Ontario-sired Kingarvie is arguably tougher than the open Display, because of the presence of Coronation Futurity winner Asserting Bear, and Man Cave could end up in the Display, according to trainer Ashlee Brnjas.

“You never know what’s going to happen, and it’s best we have both options,” Brnjas said. “I think they’re both going to be tough spots. I don’t want to run against [Asserting Bear].”

Man Cave made all three of his starts over a mile and 70 yards. He graduated second-time out Oct. 11, and then doubled up in an Ontario-sired allowance Nov. 15.

“He’s such a cool little horse to have in the barn,” Brnjas said. “He’s just improving and improving. He does everything right, and does it with a lot of class. When he’s done growing, I think he’ll be pretty big, width-wise.”

Man Cave is a son of freshman sire Leonnatus Anteas, Canada’s champion 2-year-old of 2006. Man Cave is the second foal from Precious Jade, a daughter of Dance to Destiny, who is the sire of Ultimate Destiny.

Cool Faith eyes Lassie

Lexie Lou and Paladin Bay, the top two finishers in the Nov. 24 South Ocean Stakes, both worked earlier this week in preparation for Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Flipcup, the closing third-place finisher in the South Ocean, is a rare Ontario-sired filly who was bred in New York, which makes her ineligible for the Ontario Lassie.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Flipcup, who is 2 for 2 in sprints, has been shelved for the time being.

“I think we plan on giving her the best part of the winter off, and look forward to her 3-year-old year [at Woodbine],” Lynch said. “We’ll have the option of some stuff at Saratoga later in the year.”

The Ontario Lassie could be the first Polytrack start for the promising Chiefswood Stable homebred Cool Faith, who beat the boys in her debut before narrowly losing to males again on the grass in the Oct. 20 Cup and Saucer Stakes.

Robert Landry, the general manager for Chiefswood, said they are hoping to run Cool Faith in the Lassie.

“If everything is well and the track is good, our plan is to run her there,” Landry said. “We do have other options, to run her in the [United States].”