Storybook Season: Todd Ratchford Eyes Breeders Crown Glory

MILTON, October 23, 2025— Even during a meteoric rise to harness racing’s elite ranks, Todd Ratchford is as grounded as they come.

On Friday night, in front of a hometown crowd at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the 29-year-old reinsman will take his rapid ascent to ceiling-shattering heights when he makes his Breeders Crown debut in the Grade 1 USD $700,000 2-Year-Old Filly Trot final.

Tussling with top competition on the world stage is nothing new for the former professional hockey player turned sulky superstar.

“I expected myself to do well just because that’s the kind of pressure I put on myself, but I never expected to be in the Breeders Crown in my second year driving,” said Ratchford, whose career on the ice included stops in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates.

“It’s something I never would have thought of at this point – maybe down the road I would expect something like that, but to get here this fast, it’s a surprise. But things happen for a reason, and when you’re supposed to be there, you’re supposed to be there.”

Competing for a Breeders Crown is exactly where Ratchford is meant to be.

After debuting in 2023, the Caledonia, Ontario native hit stride the following year, recording career-highs across the board (854: 95-80-108; C$1.06 million) enroute to the 2024 O’Brien Future Star Award.

Ratchford has backed up his breakout campaign by reaching the $1 million earnings mark again this year ($1.09 million), surpassing his previous benchmark in over 300 fewer starts.

However, his greatest accomplishment thus far was being able to translate that season-long excellence into the first of two Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot eliminations on October 17 at Mohawk.

Teamed with 33-1 underdog Storybook Love, Ratchford and the rookie Chapter Seven filly stormed home in :27-flat – a personal-best tying mark – to secure victory and a position in Friday’s final.

It was an encouraging result for a young horse brimming with natural ability.

“She’s always been a talented filly, but at the beginning of the year, she was a little immature, she had a little nagging problem, so we just had to figure her out,” said Ratchford, who has been in the race bike for eight of Storybook Love’s 11 lifetime starts.

“Matt [trainer Matt Bax] did a great job of doing that, and she’s just coming into form right now.”

The brown trotter out of Credit Winner mare Stirling Debutant bolstered Ratchford’s belief heading into the elimination following a pair of impressive outings in the Big Apple series at Vernon Downs.

“She won the elimination for the Big Apple, pretty much identical to the way she won her Breeders Crown elim – she just felt amazing. The next week, for the Big Apple final, she just raced perfectly. She almost got there for the win, but just lost to a really nice filly [Nezuko Kamada S] that won the other [Breeders Crown] elimination.

“She felt really good those two weeks at Vernon, and I was super confident in her going into the elimination last week. As soon as I got on the track, I knew she was ready to roll and do her job.”

A finish in the top two felt possible, added Ratchford, but reeling in the win was a welcome bonus.

“I was pretty sure when I got cover from Dex [driver, Dexter Dunn] in front of me that she would come around that last turn in a good spot. She felt like she did in New York, so I thought as long as nothing silly happens we’d have a good shot.

“She loves to pass horses, so as soon as you pull her off a helmet, she kicks into another gear, and she’s gone. Having a horse that’s willing to do that is a plus because a lot of them don’t like to, but she’s a special filly, for sure.”

When Ratchford and Storybook Love line up behind the starter car for the most significant race of their early yet decorated careers, they will attempt to capitalize on the benefit of home-field advantage.

The former, a Mohawk regular, will have his own cheering section watching from the grandstand and restaurant.

“It’s incredible. Just to have everyone there and be a part of it with me makes all the difference.”

The latter, while “an awesome traveller,” according to Ratchford, is stabled in Ontario and won’t be subject to any transit-related stressors.

That, noted Ratchford, can be of great benefit come game day.

“For anyone, when you go to a new place, you’re just not as comfortable, right? I think it translates well to a horse, too. They’re very environment-oriented animals, so when they can be comfortable, and not as stressed as say, when they’re traveling and stuff like that, it definitely plays a huge factor.”

Though, it all boils down to executing between the rails. ​

“It’s world-class horses,” said Ratchford. “All of them are here for a reason and they’ve all shown that they can handle stressful situations. You want to beat everyone at their best, so I think that’s what it’s going to come down to.”

Leading by example, Ratchford is operating with the same discipline from his past life on the frozen pond to stay steady ahead of what could be a defining day on the racetrack. ​

“It’s pretty much the usual – stay in your routine, do your work in the morning, and take it day by day.

“I’ve had races all week, so I’ve been preparing for those and then when Friday comes, you bear down a little bit, but don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself because that’s how mistakes happen… enjoy it and try not to stress over it too much.”

Which is why Ratchford is relishing the ride.

“There are very few opportunities to even be in a race like this – I’m definitely not taking it for granted. I want to soak everything in and savour it. Winning the elimination, especially, makes you feel that you belong in the race, and not along for the ride.

“It’s always fun, and hopefully, the outcome is what we want it to be.”

Ratchford and Storybook Love enter the final from post five as the 4-1 third choice.

Matthew Lomon