First mare.

First foal.

First foal through the Alberta Standardbred Yearling Sale.

First winner.

First stakes winner.

“I can’t beat the start I’ve had,” said breeder and track veterinarian Jordan Cook after that foal, Ruler of Dragons, won the first division of the first elimination of the Rising Star stakes Saturday at Lacombe’s Track on 2 for two-year-old colts and geldings.

“That’s a lot of firsts. I’m over the moon,” said Cook.

“It couldn’t go any better. It’s a dream.”

Why did she get into breeding Standardbreds?

“Because I’m crazy,” laughed Cook. “It started with Lady Neigh Neigh and now I have four broodmares.

“Seriously I really enjoy it. I’m trying to bring in nice mares and keep the nice mares here.

“I’m really passionate about it. I’ve always really enjoyed the breeding side.”

By one of Alberta’s top stallions, Custard The Dragon, and out of Lady Neigh Neigh, Ruler of Dragons won the Rising Star elimination on resolve, resilience and fortitude.

“I lost my voice screaming,” said Cook after Hello Dragon hooked wheels with Ruler of Dragons in mid stretch, was passed and somehow came back on to win by a neck.

“We got stopped cold,” said Jamie Gray, Ruler of Dragons trainer/driver and co-owner.

“I had to unhook wheels and he still came back to win. I was turned sideways for a while.

“He’s got a lot of guts,” said Gray, of the winning mile in 158.

“I chased him and he dug back in. I didn’t actually think I was going to win but he got there.”

Now four for four with three stakes wins, Ruler of Dragons also won the $97,000 Century Casino - in 1:55 4/5 - and the $25,000 open Norm Kennedy.

“His purchase price is already paid,” said Gray. “We’ve got a free horse.

“He also won his maiden and his qualifier; Ruler of Dragons loves to win,” said Gray. “He’s a tough, little bugger.”

He also loves to eat red - not black - liquorice Twizzle sticks. His nickname is Twiz.

Purchased for $36,000 at last year’s Alberta Stardbred Yearling Sale, Ruler of Dragons is now owned by Rick Mowles’ JJJ Stable, Paul Sanders and Gray.

“Rick has owned horses for a long time; Paul just recently,” said Gray. “They both absolutely love horse racing and we need that.

“They own horses in Ontario, British Columbia and now Alberta.”

Gray said “There are a lot of nice colts this year. It’s going to be a tough year”

Cook said the $36,000 purchase price was “a little more than I expected.

“He was Lady Neigh Neigh’s first foal, he was an early (11) hip number; the first Custard The Dragon yearling up for sale and he’s pretty small.

“But his conformation is perfect. You don’t have to be big to pace fast. His legs move as fast as Lady Neigh Neigh and she was a big mare.

“He’s just a wee guy,” agreed Gray, who had a great meet at Century Downs led by the phenomenal Custard Dolce, a winner of 14 of her 18 starts and over $300,000.

“Ruler of Dragons is not big at all but he’s got a big heart and a big stride. He likes to win.

“He’s easy to train; very smart,” said Gray who took over the driving from Phil Giesbrecht, who hurt his knee.

Then there’s the aforementioned breeding.

“He’s by Custard The Dragon and out of Lady Neigh Neigh,” said Cook.

“Custard The Dragon is one of Alberta’s top sires; Lady Neigh Neigh was one of Alberta’s top mares,” Cook, a graduate of Guelph, said.

Lady Neigh Neigh won 22 races - including the Emerald, Penny Bath (at Fraser Downs) and Moore’s Mile - and $200,000.

“Ruler of Dragons is the spitting image of Lady Neigh Neigh,” said Cook, who purchased Lady Neigh Neigh from Chris Lancaster after the mare’s racing days were over - specifically for a broodmare.

“I can’t wait until he races at Century Mile on a big track with a long stretch,” said Cook, who now already owns four broodmares and is on the verge of buying a fifth.

Cook will be represented at this year’s Yearling Sale this Sunday by a half brother to Ruler of Dragons by Vertical Horizon, another top Alberta sire.

Harness racing returns to Century Mile Friday and Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

Highlights of the meet are the October 11 Century Casino Filly Pace and Western Canada Pacing Derby, the November 8 Super Finals and the October 25 second annual Harness The Hope Charity event in partnership with the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“We are excited to be back racing at Century Mile,” said Nancy Retzlaff, executive-director of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association.

“Our horse population is the strongest its been in a while. The long stretch and big track are appreciated by many and make for some exciting racing.”

The other division of the Rising Star on Saturday was taken spectacularly by The Great Shark in 1:54 3/5 equaling his Track On 2 track record and there appeared to be lots left in the tank.

Trained by Brinsley Brooking Lutz, The Great Shark is owned by breeder Michelle Danroth and Brent Grundy.

He has now won four in a row.

There were also three divisions of The Starlet for two-year-old fillies.

The first division was won by B A Dragon. With the same owners as Ruler of Dragons, B A Dragon won wire-to-wire in 1:58 1/5.

The second division went to Mystery Shooter in 1:56 by five and a half lengths. Mystery Shooter is trained, driven and co-owned by Nathan Sobey, Archie Benekos and Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhesby,

The third division was taken by Anything Goes in 1:57 4/5 by a head for her first win. Anything Goes is owned by Todd Teolis and trained and driven by Logan Gillis.

STOCK REPORT - This past week’s Thoroughbred Yearling Sale was “a great success' according to Lindsay Ward, Communications Coordinator for CTHS Alberta.

Gross sales on the 73 yearlings sold were $1,024,600 which was up 47 per cent over last year’s gross average.

The average price was $14,036.

The sales topper at $72,000 consigned by Doug Oberg and purchased by Norm Tremblay. It was the highest selling horse at the Alberta Yearling Sale since 2015.

The top consignor was Highfield Investment Group - $104,000 on five sold.

The top buyer was Al Pitchko, who spent $152,000 on seven horses.

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Author: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty.