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Red River Rebel First Black-Type Winner for Reload

Juvenile gelding broke his maiden in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes race.

Red River Rebel wins the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine

Red River Rebel wins the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine

Michael Burns

Denny Andrews and Northern Dawn Stables' homebred Red River Rebel defied his odds in the featured CA$100,400 (US$76,806) Frost King Stakes, scoring a maiden-breaking victory Nov. 20 at Woodbine.

Red River Rebel became the first black-type winner for freshman sire Reload , who stands at Northern Dawn Stables in Ontario and whose 2021 fee is advertised as CA$4,000.

Steve Bahen worked out the winning trip aboard the juvenile gelding in the 6-1/2-furlong Ontario-sired event on the all-weather, which was rescheduled after the Nov. 15 Thoroughbred card was canceled due to extreme weather conditions. 

Red River Rebel tracked a trio of early leavers in fourth-place while Forest Survivor established the lead through a :22.76 quarter-mile and was pressed by All Canadian into the turn. He chased along the rail into the stretch and took the inside path to victory, surging by despite Forest Survivor drifting in down the lane.  

Red River Rebel, sent postward at 6-1 after finishing third in his Oct. 23 debut, was victorious in 1:16.05 for trainer Rachel Halden. Forest Survivor finished 2 1/2 lengths behind in second, with Candy Overload overtaking All Canadian for third.

"He ran real good his first start, but he did get a little tired," said Bahen. "He came back and he trained real good. I've been galloping him and he's been training really well so I knew he was good today.

"I think he can be any kind of horse; he's just learning now. He was kind of a little silly guy and he's learned a lot since we've had him and he's doing well. He's moving forwardly and hopefully he gets even better." 

Reload, a multiple grade 3-winning son of Hard Spun , is also the sire of five black-type-placed winners, including Candy Overload and All Canadian. He has produced eight winners from 17 starters.

Red River Rebel was bred in Ontario and is the first foal out of the Spaniard mare Spani Lou, who is also dam of a yearling Cairo Prince  colt and was reported bred back this year to Reload.

Video: Frost King S. (BT)