The training track rail was packed on a warm and bright Thursday morning as every trainer on the grounds seemed to have their horses on the track at the same time. No one wanted to miss a chance of soaking up the much-awaited sunshine, and trainer Mike Nault was no exception. Nault had two Manitoba yearling-sale purchases out for exercise, one by Vengeful Wildcat and the other by Speculating.

Freshly claimed Saskatchewan-bred Delvecchio won the 7th running of the $40,000 Phil Kives Stakes on Monday, Manitoba-bred Melisandre wired her field in the 28th running of the $40,000 Distaff Stakes on Tuesday, and Hey Hey Run Away became the longest-price winner of the meeting in the seventh race on Tuesday, which helped one lucky bettor scoop the whole pool in the ASD Jackpot Pick 5 to the tune of $69,860!

Trainers Mike Nault and Devon Gittens won the first 2-year-old races of the meet on Tuesday, Jerry Gourneau opened a big lead in the trainer standings, and a new apprentice from B.C. made a notable appearance in another week of million-dollar-plus handles.

There are over 200 horses on the grounds already and we’re still 52 days away from opening day! Trainer Mike Nault had another big year in 2022 training for major owners True North Thoroughbreds and A2 Thoroughbreds and he’s hoping for more of the same this season with 25 horses that include seven well-bred youngsters along with stakes winners like Lady Cop and It’sthattime. The former won the Debutante and Osiris Stakes last year and the latter won the R.J. Speers and Elite Mercedes Stakes.

For the second time in a row, Manitoba-bred Lady Cop called on her big heart to win, this time in the 59th running of the $40,000 Osiris Stakes on Monday night. The 2-year-old filly by Vengeful Wildcat-Agolo Bynoe by Successful Appeal dueled inside favoured gelding Adjournment to the top of the stretch and opened up to win by three lengths, being kept to task through the stretch to hold safe from her male rival, who certainly wasn’t giving up.

Next stop, Arizona.

That’s the likely itinerary for the summertime star of Assiniboia Downs, New York-bred 2-year-old gelding Diamond Digger, who improved to 4-for-4 in Wednesday night’s $35,000 Winnipeg Futurity in Manitoba.

Michael Nault took one look at some photos and video of Hip 545, a New York-bred colt by Violence selling on the second day of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale and knew what to do. “This is the horse you want right here”

Diamond Digger set all the pace in the Graduation, clicking off fractions of :22.40 and :46.60 on the way to an easy 5 1/4-length win over second-time starting maiden Mean Money and first-time starter Kiton. Trained by Michael Nault, Diamond Digger won in 1:00.40.