Colebrook Farms' Exceed fought to the wire to break his maiden by a neck in a Woodbine maiden optional claiming test for Ontario-breds July 26, becoming the first winner for freshman sire Ami's Holiday.
Making just his second start for trainer Ashlee Brnjas, Exceed looked beaten at the top of the turn as Galvaston and I'm the Sheriff battled on the lead. Jockey Steven Bahen angled the 2-year-old colt off the rail, however, and ground out a late run to prevail in a final time of :59.27 for the five furlongs on the all-weather surface.
In his July 5 debut, Exceed finished third while going 4 1/2 furlongs on the same track.
Bred by Tall Oaks Farm, Exceed is the first foal out of the graded-placed Elusive Quality mare Elusive Collection.
Ami's Holiday, a son of Harlan's Holiday, was a graded stakes winner while racing from age 2 to 5 for trainer Josie Carroll and owner Ivan Dalos. He broke his maiden on debut and followed that up with a win in the Grey Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, where most of his success came. He was retired with a 4-1-7 record from 22 starts and $817,773 in earnings.
Also bred by Tall Oaks Farm, Ami's Holiday is a half brother to grade 2 winner Ami's Mesa, who finished second in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) and was named that year's Canadian champion older mare and champion female sprinter.
Ami's Holiday stood at Colebrook Farms Stallion Station in Ontario for CA$4,000 this year.
