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Gardiner Farm

The stallion barn at Gardiner Farm

Date: 01/31/2010

Gardiner Farm in Caledon, Ontario hosted its annual Stallion Open House on Sunday January 31. The historic farm was founded by Canadian financier and philanthropist George Gardiner in the 1950's on which to raise and train his private string of thoroughbreds, including champions St. Vincent and Runaway Groom. Veterinarian and horseman Dr. Michael Colterjohn operates the farm today, an impressive 296-acre property located 40 minutes northwest of Woodbine, with outdoor and indoor training tracks and over 100 stalls. Now that Adena Springs North in Aurora is used for Frank Stronach's racehorse retirement program, Gardiner Farm is home to the six Canadian-based Adena Springs stallions along with five stallions owned in full or in partnership by the farm. Although it has been an unusually cold winter in Southern Ontario, it was a relatively "warm" 24 degrees during the open house so some of the stallions were shown outside.

We also visited Norse Ridge Farm earlier in January.

Alphabet Soup is best known as the winner of the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Woodbine in track record time, defeating Cigar. He is the only Breeders' Cup Classic winner standing at stud in Canada. On the track he had 10 wins, 3 seconds, and 6 thirds in 24 starts, earning $2,990,270. Since retiring to stud, he has sired 37 stakes winners, 10 graded, including Grade 1 winners Our New Recruit and Alphabet Kisses. The grey son of Cozzene out of Arts and Letters mare Illiterate stands for a fee of $6,000.

Alphabet Soup before the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic
Alphabet Soup winning the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic with Cigar third

Milwaukee Brew sired the last 2 Woodbine Oaks winners, who each went on to be voted Canadian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Ginger Brew in 2008 and Milwaukee Appeal in 2009. He was the top sire in Canada in 2009, whose progeny earned over $3.7 million, including stakes winners Peach Brew and Milwaukee Miracle. On the track, he won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) two years in a row, and finished in the money in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Haskell, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic. He raced 24 times, with 8 wins, 4 seconds, and 5 thirds, earning $2,879,612. The son of Wild Again out of Wolf Power mare Ask Anita stands for a fee of $12,500.

Milwaukee Brew (outside) finishing 3rd in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic


Giant Gizmo won two Grade 3 stakes races, the Alysheba Stakes and the Lone Star Park Handicap, earned triple digit Beyers on dirt and synthetic tracks, and won on all three surfaces, including a track record over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride at 1 mile. In 11 starts he had 6 wins, 1 second, and 1 third, earning $508,685. The son of Giant's Causeway out of Hansel mare Golden Antigua stands for a fee of $4,000 in his first year at stud.

Giant Gizmo winning the 2008 Alysheba Stakes


Olmodavor raced for Wertheimer et Frere in California under trainer Richard Mandella, winning the Native Diver (G3) and Whirlaway Handicap (G3), and finishing second in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), New Orleans Handicap (G2), Strub (G2). In 15 starts, he had 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third, earning $706,540. As a stallion he sired stakes winners High Miss, Miss Dixie Dreamer, and Zlatan in his first 2 crops. The son of A.P. Indy out of El Gran Senor mare Corrazona stands for a fee of $5,000.


Sligo Bay sired graded stakes winners Chirac, Bay to Bay, and Dulce Agar, as well as graded stakes placed Sligovitz, Northern Bay, and Bourbon Bay. He won the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) and the Cinema Handicap (G3), and was second in the Beresford (G3), Hollywood Derby (G1), Oak Tree Derby (G2), and San Gabriel Handicap (G2). In 17 starts he had 4 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds, earning $484,695. The son of Sadler's Wells out of Halo mare Angelic Song stands for a fee of $6,000.


Peaks and Valleys was Canada's Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 1995, when he won the Molson Export Million (G1), Meadowlands Cup (G1), Illinois Derby (G2), and the Derby Trial (G3). Racing for Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stable, he won 9 times, finished second 3 times, and third twice in 16 starts, earning $1,589,270. His top runners include graded stakes winners Dollar Bill, Meribel, Chamrousse, Higher World, and Happy Trails. The son of Mt. Livermore out of Green Dancer mare Strike A Balance stands for a fee of $4,500.


Philanthropist raced 18 times in 4 seasons, with 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds earning $266,430 for owner Phipps Stable and trainer Shug McGaughey, including one stakes win, the 2005 Queens County Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct, defeating stakes winners West Virginia and Evening Attire. Retiring to stud in 2007, his first foals are 2-year-olds this year, with his first crop yearlings selling for as high as $90,000. The son of Kris S. out of Mr. Prospector mare Hidden Reserve stands for a fee of $3,500.


Trajectory was the 3rd leading sire in Ontario in 2009. In just 2 seasons of racing, he won 6 of 10 starts, with 3 seconds, and 0 thirds, earning $279,784, including wins in the Warminster at Philadelphia, the McConnell Springs at Keeneland, and the Seagram Cup at Woodbine. Since retiring to stud in 2002, he has had 86 winners out of 159 starters in 5 crops, including stakes winners Dancer's Bajan, London Snow, Midnight Shadow, Mean Green, Tenjectory, and Parabola. The son of Gone West out of Relaunch mare Dream Launch stands for a fee of $4,500.


Where's the Ring was the 2nd leading sire in Ontario in 2009. In 14 starts through 4 seasons of racing, he had 6 wins, 3 seconds, and 0 thirds earning $182,900, including a win in the Chuck Taliaferro Memorial Stakes at Remington and a second place finish in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn. Entering stud in 2005, he has had 31 winners out of 59 starters in 2 crops, including stakes winners Cawaja Beach and Who's Big Daddy. The son of Seeking the Gold out of Blushing Groom mare Wedding Picture stands for a fee of $4,500.

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