In 2013, a bay filly by Shannondoe Farm's stallion Society's Chairman was born at their farm near Ontario. The filly, later named Caren, was bred by the owners and founder of the farm, James and Janeane Everatt, and their daughter Arika Everatt-Meeuse.
After selling the filly for $45,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky October Yearling Sale in 2014 to trainer Michael De Paulo, on behalf of Robert Marzilli, the filly went on to earn $821,790 and be voted Canada's champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in 2016.
More than a decade later, the Everatts and Marzilli were brought together again and, this time, celebrated in tandem when their homebred colt Fire and Wine won the $179,242 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine Nov. 29 by 5 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion.
The 1 1/8-mile race is a key stepping stone on the road to the CA$1 million King's Plate, the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown.
The Everatts bred Fire and Wine's dam, Double Latte, and were unable to sell her, so they partnered with Marzilli and sent her into training with De Paulo. She was prematurely retired because of an injury and sent to the breeding shed.
Similar to his dam, the response to Fire and Wine at public auction was tepid when he was offered at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton February Mixed Sale as part of the St George Sales consignment.
"When Fire and Wine was born, I put him in the February Fasig-Tipton (Winter Mixed) Sale," Everatt-Meeuse said. "I thought he was lovely, I really liked him. A (son of) Lexitonian, I thought people would like him.
"(Archie St George of St George Sales) called me and said, 'We're not getting any action.' His sheet was good for the back ring. With no reserve, we sold him for $5,000 (to Rachid Brothers)."
The son of Lexitonian didn't break his maiden until his sixth start, but it was worth the wait. He surged to a 13-length victory Oct. 19 at Woodbine, stamping himself as a serious contender for the Coronation Futurity.
"When we saw him at the track this year, he's just a man among boys," Everatt-Meeuse said. "He's a big, strong, good-looking colt. There's a lot more horse there than most of them when he walks through the starting gate."
Everatt-Meeuse added that the colt resembles his dam, Double Latte, who is a large, scopey mare.
"He's kind of doing things effortlessly, but that was supposed to be Double Latte," she said. "She was supposed to be a really good filly. She had a huge stride and a beautiful way of moving. It was really a shame she got hurt."
Everatt-Meeuse hopes to have a second chance in 2026 at a King's Plate victory. Last year, the Everatt's homebred No Time, Shannondoe's first Woodbine Oaks winner, finished a distant ninth in the race.
While they have had great success with the Canadian program, the pressures of being a commercial breeder led them to decide to operate a second farm named Colton Springs Farm near Paris, Ky.
"I've got a great crew down there," Everatt-Meeuse said. "Last year, we left all of our mares to be foaled in Kentucky, all but one of our own. Mr. Marzilli is my main client. He keeps a lot with me. He foaled half of his last year there as well, and kept half here (in Ontario)."
Fire and Wine is the first horse bred in partnership by the Everatts and Marzilli, getting them off to a successful start.
"If he (Fire and Wine) stays healthy, who's going to beat him in the King's Plate?" Everatt-Meeuse said. "He's a very strong contender for a $1 million race. That should inspire people. It's a small trainer, a good working man's story, kind of like an underdog story. That's what racing needs right now."
