TORONTO, October 31, 2024 – A 7-year-old son of Giant Gizmo out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Street Kid, Ron’s Gizmo has been a rock-solid performer throughout his 29-race career. Sporting a 7-4-3 mark, to go along with $311,516 (U.S.) in purse earnings, the dark bay, trained by Ron Sadler, has finished outside the top five just three times since launching his career on Aug. 6, 2020. Sadler is unabashed in his praise of Ron’s Gizmo, who is slated to travel (about) 1 3/8 miles on the Woodbine inner turf in an allowance optional claiming race, part of Saturday’s 10-race offering at the Toronto oval. “He’s an enormous horse,” said Sadler. “He didn’t run at 2, but the owner had him in training until he was 3. As a 3-year-old, you could see his beautiful stride – it is stupendous. You combine that with his great attitude and his athleticism, and we knew within a few weeks that he was going to be a pretty nice horse.” Ron’s Gizmo broke his maiden in his third start, on Sept. 13, 2020, a three-quarter length score at 20-1 over 1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf. “With his size, you couldn’t rush him,” noted Sadler. “But he put it all together when he broke his maiden going long. He came back and hit the board in a non-winners of two going long, so we were very excited about him.” Owned by Linda Theil and Harri Hosein, Ron’s Gizmo has become one of Woodbine’s most steady and reliable performers. Since the start of his 6-year-old campaign, which began with a win on June 25, 2023, the gelding has finished in the top three in 10 of his 14 starts. His only finish outside of the top four was a sixth in the first race of his 7-year-old campaign on June 16. He arrives at Saturday’s race off a hard charging second in the Grade 3 Durham Cup, just a head back of now two-time graded stakes winner Dresden Row. “It was a great effort,” praised Sadler. “He came out of it terrific. He was tired for a day or two, but he is training back very nicely, and we are just weighing our options. “We love this guy. He is a gentleman at all times, a joy to be around. He will get a little spark in his eye, shake his head, as if to say, ‘I’m ready.’” Everyone in the Sadler barn knows how to interpret that body language. “I have quite a strong exercise rider because although this horse is good, he is strong and will take a hold. He just floats around there, and it is wonderful to watch.” Ron’s Gizmo, noted Sadler, has no idea just how strong he is. “It is just easy for him. He doesn’t want to be cramped and collected, he wants to stretch out and use his big, easy stride and around he goes.” He continues to be a thrill ride for Sadler and co. “This is such a big thing for the owners. Harri Hosein was a groom for me for many years and he wound up owning half of this guy. He also owns half of (stablemates) Souped Up and Prideofdistinction. “We are enthralled every day with this horse,” continued Sadler. “Every race is better and better – it is almost more than a person can wish for.” Alafia ‘Laffy’ Campbell is the groom. -30- Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
