TORONTO, September 24, 2026 – Six 3-year-olds are set to go postward in Sunday’s $400,000 (plus up to $100,000 for eligible Ontario Breds) Breeders’ Stakes, the final jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, at Woodbine. The final event of the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred sophomores concludes on the E.P. Taylor turf with the longest leg of 1 ½ miles. Luster won the 167th edition of The King’s Plate on Aug. 15 and Military Time took the second jewel in the series, the Prince of Wales Stakes, on Sept. 7. Multiple stakes placed Buium, named after Vancouver Canucks young star Zeev Buium, arrives at his fifth career stakes engagement off a stellar showing in the Prince of Wales where he finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Military Time in the 1 3/16th-mile race run over the Fort Erie dirt. “I thought the effort in the Prince of Wales was outstanding,” said Attard. “He came running and running hard and ended up missing by less than a length. Obviously, we would have loved to see him get the win, but when you have a horse in your barn who goes out and gives it all he has all the time, you appreciate that heart and competitiveness every day.” A homebred for Al and Bill Ulwelling, the son of Uncle Mo out of the multiple stakes placed Whywhywhy mare Lady Haddassah has yet to break his maiden, but has two seconds, four thirds and nine top-four finishes from 10 engagements. Attard, seeking his first win in the Breeders’, is hoping the gelding, who has shown a penchant for a strong late kick, can break through this weekend at a distance and over a surface that should be right in his wheelhouse. “When you look at what the race is – on the grass and that long, long stretch – there’s every reason to believe a horse who can run all day will appreciate both the course and the distance,” said Attard. “We know his running style, and we pretty much know what to expect at every point in the race. Hopefully, there is some good early speed that he can run at and then he can unleash that powerful kick.” Buium debuted at seven furlongs over the E.P. Taylor turf on Aug. 16, 2025. After being bumped and checked at the start, the dark bay sat eighth, 11 lengths behind the leader, before an energetic finish that left him fifth (he was subsequently elevated to fourth after an objection was made by Attard and the rider, as well as a stewards’ inquiry), 2 ¾ lengths behind the winner. He ended his rookie campaign with a pair of thirds, a fourth and off-the-board finish in the Coronation Futurity Stakes in November where he was steadied at the break of the 1 1/8-mile main track feature. This year, Buium is 0-2-2 from five starts, including three races on the Woodbine main track and one on the inner turf. “We would love to see him break his maiden in style on Sunday,” said Attard. “He’s finished in the top three in six of his races and with the exception of the Coronation Futurity, he’s run his typical race.” “I guess what intrigues us most about this horse is the way he is improving,” said Al Ulwelling. “One thing that we’ve also noticed is that he’s very calm in the barn. He’s a very laid-back horse, and I think that he would love the long stretch of Woodbine. We won the (2021) Prince of Wales with Haddassah, his brother – stallion line – and we figured that if we put a better stallion or more stallion into them, these are the type of races that we wanted to win. “When we set out for Woodbine racing, our only goal was to win the biggest races at Woodbine. This would definitely be one of them. Winning the King’s Plate (in 2025, with Mansetti) was great, and this would rank right up there with it.” Attard agrees. “We (Ulwellings and himself) have been fortunate enough to win a King’s Plate (2025, Mansetti) and the Prince of Wales (2023, Velocitor; 2021, Haddassah) together, so to win all three Canadian Triple Crown races would be a dream come true.” Elaine Bradbury is the groom. The most recent Triple Crown winner was Wando, who won the 2003 Breeders’ Stakes with jockey Patrick Husbands aboard for trainer Michael Keogh and late owner/breeder Gustav Schickedanz. Since then, A Bit O’Gold (2004), Pender Harbour (2011) and Tone Broke (2019) also claimed two-thirds of the Triple Crown by taking the last two legs. In 2020, Belichick won the Breeders’, denying stablemate Mighty Heart a Triple Crown sweep. Buium training at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Recent works: Buium covered four furlongs in :50.40 over the dirt training track on Sept. 19. “Just a nice maintenance breeze, where we let him stretch his legs,” said Attard. “He’s one of those horses who understands what you ask of him and then goes out and does everything the right way. He’s coming into the race exactly how we want him to. Fast facts: The longest shot to win the Breeders’ Stakes was Miami Deco in 2010. The Ontario-bred son of Limehouse returned $132.10 for a $2 win bet. Catherine Day Phillips became the first female trainer to win the race courtesy of A Bit O’Gold in 2004. One year later, she was in the winner’s circle again, this time with Jambalaya. Wagering menu for the Breeders’: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / $1 Swinger. Field for the Breeders’ Stakes Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Bond Market – Xarel Forde – Carlos Grant 2 – Keepmypowderdry – Pietro Moran – Don MacRae 3 – Fire and Wine – Jalon Samuel – Zeljko Krcmar 4 – Katie’s Grace – Ryan Munger – Catherine Day Phillips 5 – Buium – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Kevin Attard 6 – Imyourmedicineman – Fraser Aebly – Harold Ladouceur Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
