TORONTO, July 9, 2026 – Seven 2-year-olds, including Hesatrooper, will travel 5 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track in Sunday’s co-featured $125,000 Victoria Stakes. Trained by John Ross for owners JC Stable and Duane Passero, the son of Army Mule out of the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Obaasan heads into his first stakes test off an impressive winning debut on June 21. Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the 4 ½-furlong maiden claiming main track race, Hesatrooper got away well and set the early tone before sprinting away down the lane for a 5 ¼-length score in :52.56. Ross, a lifetime winner of 629 races and 39 stakes, was relieved to see the gelding go unclaimed for a $40,000 price tag. “I liked him a lot,” said Ross. “I lived on the edge a little bit if someone had taken him. Usually, people watch the first time, and fortunately, it worked out for us. “He got some confidence out of this race, he learned something and it was all a good thing.” As for what stood out most in terms of the effort, Ross pointed to the horse’s energy and enthusiasm down the lane. “He started off a little green, looking around, which Pietro [jockey, Moran] mentioned. He took a hold of him just to keep his mind on business, but when a horse came close to him turning for home, he took off. The way he took off, particularly from the eighth-pole and how he galloped out, I was impressed by that. He got a 75 speed figure, which was nice. “When you see them finish like that and gallop out like that, it’s a great sign. He was good in the gate, too. We did a lot of work in the gate with him and he broke very well. When you see young horses do that like an old pro, it makes you feel like you’ve done your homework.” What has Ross learned about Hesatrooper in the weeks after his milestone win? “He came back from the race in excellent order. He’s a bit of a tough little guy. I just learned that this horse is maturing all the time and getting better. He’s still growing, too.” Hesatrooper was a $15,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2025 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale. “Hill ‘n’ Dale always breeds some nice horses, and they do a great job,” said Ross. “Glenn Sikura and Hill ‘n’ Dale produce some nice horses that go through the sale, and this is another good one we picked out from them. I appreciate how they go about their breeding and I have had plenty of good luck with their horses.” Earl “Shorty” Marriott is the groom. Hesatrooper and jockey Pietro Moran winning Race 4 on June 21, 2026 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Recent works: On July 2, Hesatrooper worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.60 over the Woodbine dirt track ahead of the Victoria. “I had Pietro work him,” noted Ross. “He worked with another 2-year-old, a filly. Pietro was really happy with him. It was a hot day. My instructions that day were to go 1:02 and change. On a hot day, pushing them too hard is counterproductive. I thought an in-between five-eighths would be perfect for him. Pietro was happy with it and I was, too. He galloped out nicely. “The thing I liked about the work was that it was just like his race. When he was done, he just kept going. You love seeing things like that in young horses.” Fast Facts: Spring won the inaugural running of the Victoria in 1903. Sound Reason won the 1976 running, capping off three straight years trainer Gil Rowntree won the race. Casson won last year’s edition. Wagering menu for the Victoria: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 7-8-9) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 7-8-9-10) / $1 Swinger. Field for the $125,000 Victoria Stakes Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Titan Ready – Eswan Flores – Sid Attard 2 – Hesatrooper – Pietro Moran – John Ross 3 – Uncle Kef – Carlos Barbosa – Kevin Rice 4 – Frost Rocket – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Krista Cole 5 – Uncle Dodo – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Barb Minshall 6 – Klassen (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard 7 – Merckx – Jose Campos – Dale Desruisseaux -30- Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
