Deputy Daddy and jockey Keveh Nicholls winning R6 on June 15, 2025. (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – A pair of Ontario-sired 3-year-old turf stakes, the $100,000 Lake Superior and $100,000 Thunder Bay, share the spotlight on Sunday at Woodbine.
Established in 2021, the Ontario Sired Heritage Series is comprised of three $100,000 legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: 3-year-old colts & geldings, and 3-year-old fillies. The total purse structure for the series is $800,000.
There is a total of $70,000 in bonus money for the Heritage Series, $35,000 for each division (awarded $20,000, $10,000, $5,000) for the top three point-earning colts/geldings and fillies).
All three legs and the final are contested over different distances and surfaces: the Woodbine Inner Turf Course, the Woodbine E.P. Taylor turf, the Woodbine main track, and Fort Erie dirt track.
Seven hopefuls, including Deputy Daddy, will vie for top prize in the Lake Superior, to be contested at six furlongs over the E.P. Taylor turf.
Trained by Rick Hayashi for The Estate of Paul Buttigieg, the grey gelding gallops into his first stakes test in top form.
On May 24, Deputy Daddy rallied to secure a half-length win at 5 ½ panels over the Woodbine main track. One race later, on June 15, his long drive paid off with a three-quarter length score at 6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf.
“The first win, I give the boss all the credit,” said Hayashi, of the horse bred by longtime horseman Buttigieg, who passed away this May. “He told me to enter him, and I didn’t want to. That was Paul’s last order to me. It was a very nice win and obviously, it has special meaning behind it.
“When the new condition book came out, I saw the turf race,” continued Hayashi. “It was three weeks after the win and I thought if he ran well in the turf race, we would sit on him until the Lake Superior. He showed he could handle the turf, so here we are.”
Deputy Daddy was third in his debut, a 5 ½-furlong sprint over the Woodbine main on September 29, 2024. Sixth at the same distance and on the same surface next time out, on November 3, he returned the following spring and posted consecutive runner-up results.
The son of Frac Daddy out of the Alphabet Soup mare Deputy Song then embarked on his current two-race win streak.
“We haven’t seen much of a difference in him over the last two races,” said Hayashi. “He’s definitely grown. His groom, Dianne Hedges, calls him “The Wall” because he’s an immovable object. He’s a kind-hearted bully, if there is such a thing. He knows how strong he is, but he’s a gentle giant.”
Deputy Daddy breezed four furlongs over the main track in :49.40 on July 20 in preparation for his latest engagement.
“The five-eighths on July 6, I worked him in company, and Keveh (jockey, Nicholls) was aboard,” said Hayashi, of the main track breeze. “He worked in :59.00. His next work, on July 13 (five panels in 1:02.00), I told Keveh to give him an easy one. I think he’s going to the race in good order.”
The wagering menu for the Thunder Bay includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10) and $1 Swinger.
Field for the $100,000 Lake Superior – Race 2
