TORONTO, October 18, 2025 – Borealis Trail, under Jose Campos, was full of run late to take Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine. Mansetti, who won The King’s Plate this August and was then second in the Prince of Wales, second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, broke sharply and struck front early in the 1 1/8-mile main track feature for 3-year-olds, shadowed by Runaway Again, winner of the Prince of Wales, into the first turn and through an opening panel in :24.90. Borealis Trail, a sharp second in the Breeders’ Stakes, final jewel of the Triple Crown, settled into last of seven. It was Mansetti on top by a half-length at the half in :49.43, followed by Special Session, Runaway Again and Pretty Capable, while Campos and Borealis Trail continued to watch the action from the back of the pack. Mansetti, the 2-1 choice, extended his advantage heading into the turn for home and was still on top by two lengths through three quarters in 1:13.92, but had company, in the form of a four-wide Wagstaff and an inside move from Borealis Trail straightening for home. Borealis Trail was guided off the rail in upper stretch and soon began to make inroads on the leader. Less than two lengths behind at the stretch call, the bay son of Quality Road out of the Pulpit mare Aurora Lights kept gaining with every stride and took over with 100 yards to the wire, going on notch a two-length win in his stakes breakthrough. Mansetti was second, 2 ½ lengths clear of Wagstaff. He’s Not Joking was fourth. The final time was 1:50.88. Borealis Trail and jockey Jose Campos winning the Ontario Derby on October 18, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “I think he’s an excellent horse,” praised Campos. “He’s a super horse. Rachel is doing an excellent job with the horse. He’s a difficult horse to train, and he’s doing good.” “So, I tried to save ground in the first part, and when I asked [him] to go, the horse just flew.” “It’s a little bit of redemption for him for getting beat in the in the Breeders’, the way that he did,” added trainer Rachel Halden. “Obviously, we were thrilled with how he ran, but when you’re second by just a head in a race like that, it’s a bit more frustrating than being beating fair and square by two lengths. So, it was definitely a bit of redemption for him today.” It was the second win, to go along with a second and a third from six starts, for the Chiefswood Stables homebred. “I think looking at his form, and I was kind of looking at the betting, I think everyone was sort of following that, thinking of him probably as a turf horse, because that’s when he kind of came around,” said Halden. “But if you go back to his first race here on the Tapeta, it was very solid. We just went the turf route because we were thinking about the Breeders’, but he’s proved today that he can definitely handle this surface too.” After three starts – one on the dirt at Gulfstream in April and two on the Woodbine main track, Borealis Trail, unraced at 2, broke his maiden at one mile over the E.P. Taylor turf on August 3. Sent off as the 6-1 fifth choice in the wagering, Borealis Trail paid $14.90 for the Ontario Derby win. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
