TORONTO, June 5, 2025 – Once a week, throughout the Mohawk racing season, Woodbine will profile a horse who has had a life-changing impact on one of their closest connections. This week, Mohawk’s leading trainer in 2024, Anthony Beaton, and the horse whose impact both on and off the track has been vital to his program’s success, Better Single. After a prosperous racing career of her own, the now retired pacer continues to open doors for the astute horseman who took a chance on her as a $17,000 yearling eight years ago. Better Single Bio (ON) Foaled: May 7, 2016 Sire: Betterthancheddar Dam: Imoutahere Wins-Seconds-Thirds: 5-4-7 Earnings: $307,456 Trainer: Anthony Beaton Owner: Anthony Beaton, David Mercer Breeder: Winbak Farm You’ve trained plenty of standout horses over your career. What is it that makes Better Single particularly special? “She was the first baby that I bought when I went on my own with my racing partner. She went on to win multiple [Ontario Sires Stakes] Gold races and ended up making over $300,000 for us.” What was your first impression of her? “I went to the 2017 London [Selected] sale wanting to get a Betterthancheddar filly for myself because I dealt with ‘Cheddar’ quite a bit over the years. This filly ended up fitting the bill and price range I had in mind. “She stood correct, had solid size and a bit of everything that we were looking for, so we went ahead and purchased her, and I can say, things snowballed from there. We were able to buy more babies the next year… onward and upward.” What do you recall from her most impressive win? “That first Gold was exciting, but it was a little short-lived because a horse went down at the head of the stretch that night. Fortunately, nobody got seriously hurt. We weren’t involved in it or anything, and we were happy to win, but were also hoping that the other horse was going to be alright, too. “It was very nice to get that first Gold win with that first baby I bought when I started my own stable. “That said, I think the most exciting race was the second Gold we won that September. I had a lot of family in the crowd at Mohawk that night – if I recall correctly, they were up for my sister’s birthday – and sure enough Better Single won that night. “She won a third Gold that year right before the Super Final. That was the first night Louis-Philippe Roy drove and she came from another time zone to get up and win. I didn’t know what was up with her, she fell so far behind – maybe she fell asleep – but all of a sudden, she kicked in gear and was flying on the outside to get up to win. “Every one of those wins were amazing. That was a fun year, and it gave us lots to look forward to the next year.” Better Single, October 6, 2018 (New Image Media) Three words to describe her? “Laid-back. Driven. Loyal.” How has she changed your life? “She gave us some extra funds so we could go to these sales and purchase some more horses along the way. We were a little more comfortable buying other horses after the time she spent with us. The next horses that she bought, we did well with some of them, too. “She’s that one that got the ball rolling and she’s still loyal to us because we kept her to be a broodmare. Our first foal last year, Wicked N Single, made close to $200,000. She’s the gift that keeps on giving.” Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
