TORONTO, November 17, 2024 – In the $100,000 Lake Ontario, No More Options, at 4-5, glided to an easy victory under Ryan Munger. No More Options, winner of last year’s Frost King Stakes, broke smoothly and glided to the front ahead of the wire for the first time, tracked by Jo Daddy, Junior Hot Shot, and Garofoli. Ahead by a length through an opening panel in a tepid :25.18, No More Options yielded the lead to Jo Daddy prior to the half, which was reached in :49.33. Rounding the turn for home, Munger called on No More Options and the dark bay responded with a quick turn of foot to grab control in early stretch. In front by a length at the stretch call, the Zeljko Krcmar-trained colt dashed away from his pursuers on the way to an impressive 2 ¾-length victory in a time of 1:44.66. Junior Hot Shot was second, 2 ½ lengths in front of Cornwall. Jo Daddy was fourth. No More Options and jockey Ryan Munger winning the Lake Ontario Stakes on November 17, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “The first time I hopped on him, I personally believe I learned a lesson that day,” said Munger. “He feels like he doesn’t really quicken but when he turns it on, he really turns it on. “He deserves his place here and I think next year he’ll come back even stronger.” Krcmar echoed those thoughts. “He’s a powerhouse. Next year, he’ll look forward to the grass. I think he’s a strictly grass horse.” Owned by May Self, who is the daughter of Krcmar, No More Options was making his ninth start of the campaign. His dance card this year includes the Queenston Stakes (third) and The King’s Plate (eighth). Finishing third in his first two starts last year, the son of Frac Daddy out of the unraced Birdstone mare Stoney Miss (her dam, Gold Strike, won the Woodbine Oaks and is the dam of 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike) is now 5-0-4 from 14 starts. Bred by Laurel Byrne, No More Options came into the Lake Ontario on a winning note, taking a 7 ½-furlong race over the inner turf on Oct. 20. He paid $3.80 for today’s win. Ontario Racing and its Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee unveiled the Ontario Sired Heritage Series in 2021. The total purse structure for the series is $800,000, offering three $100,000 preliminary legs per race, per division, along with a pair of $100,000 finals for both divisions. With the conclusion of the series, $70,000 in bonuses will be paid to the top three horses in each division based upon a points system that rewards the top three finishers in each stage (Details here: tip.ontarioracing.com/tip-stakes-program/). Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
