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Winnipeg Free Press

Bloodlines run deep at Downs

Nikkitysplit won the 18th running of the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes on Tuesday, and she wasn't the only example — horse or human — that showed what the right genetics, a good upbringing and a loving environment can do at the track this week. The three-year-old filly gave Ziprick Thoroughbreds' sire Speculating his first stakes winner in the Hazel Wright, and also helped them to a clean sweep of the first three spots in the Hazel Wright in the breeding department. Second-place finisher Twoleftoload was also sired by Speculating, and third-place finisher Amplify is by the Ziprick Thoroughbreds stallion Kentucky Bear. Ziprick Thoroughbreds has been the dominant breeder in Manitoba for well over a decade, so the positive environment and good upbringing were a given. From a pedigree perspective, Speculating has all the credentials to be a top sire, being by Medaglia d'Oro, whose 184 stakes winners have earned over $209 million. George Williams / Free Press Groom Kayla Matyas has a special bond with 'princess' Nikkitysplit, winner of Tuesday's Hazel Wright Sire Stakes. Bred by longtime Manitoba owner-breeders Jerry Lambert and Lynn Mathews, Nikkitysplit is out of their mare Spiteofsuccess, which makes her a half-sister to the stakes-placed runner J L Copper, and the stakes winners in the family extend back through three generations. Lambert, who retired from his commercial painting business last year, has been breeding and racing horses for more than 40 years, and he knew he had something special in Nikkitysplit. 'Speculating is a pretty nice, well-bred horse,' he said when asked about the mating decision. 'I knew they'd never beat her.' On the human side, Nikkitysplit is groomed by Kayla Matyas and trained by six-time leading ASD trainer Tom Gardipy, Jr., who is enjoying a more relaxed atmosphere with a smaller stable this year. 'I'm loving it,' said Gardipy. 'You get to spend more time with your horses, and horses like Nikkitysplit make training easy.' Matyas has been working for Gardipy for five years and also has some pedigree, as the granddaughter of former longtime Downs trainer Tom Windross. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and there's a good work ethic across the board here. 'I love learning their personalities and their quirks and making them each happy in their own ways,' said Matyas, when describing what she enjoys most about grooming horses. Her connection with Nikkitysplit runs particularly deep. 'She's very quirky and stubborn,' said Matyas. 'So we do lots of extra work with her to keep her happy, but she's kind of the princess. Anytime she's laying down, we cuddle in her stall. I love the end of mornings when they're all quiet and sleeping and you can go have a little cuddle time. That's when you know they really trust you, when they've let you in.' The same could be said for apprentice jockey Ciera Pruitt, who scored her fifth win Wednesday night aboard Luka Grazie for trainer Jason Homer, and in the process lost her 10-pound apprentice allowance. She'll now only be allowed a five-pound break in the weights, which is still substantial. Pruitt is the daughter of a successful and hard-working trainer in Lise Pruitt, and her father is jockey Jerry Pruitt, one of the fiercest competitors in the saddle we ever saw here during his heyday. For the 22-year-old jockey, losing the bug weight is actually a relief. 'Couldn't be happier. I think it'll make me a better rider,' she said. 'I don't think that it'll make me so tired. I'm 112 naturally, so trying to take off so much weight, my body kind of started to reject me.' Her mother Lise has been instrumental in her development, providing guidance while allowing her daughter to forge her own path. 'I wanted her to be here but also to make her own way, not just as her mother's daughter, and she wants to succeed on her own merits too.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Trainer Jason Homer has been particularly supportive, providing Ciera with four of her five winners. 'He's really taking care of me and he's giving me a lot of opportunities,' said Ciera. 'He's really trying to get my name out there.' Ciera will need to ride hundreds of horses to gain the valuable experience she needs, but she's learning and improving faster than average, and she's got the genetics and upbringing to back her up. Perhaps the best indication of how well that upbringing has taken hold came when Lise Pruitt was asked about her daughter's recent success. With a loud, wide smile, she said simply: 'She spun me!' meaning her daughter accepted another mount instead of riding for Mom in the same race. In many barns, getting spun by your rider might cause hard feelings, but when it's your own daughter choosing the mount that gives her the best chance to succeed, it is a moment of pure maternal pride. Like Nikkitysplit, Ciera is proof that when good bloodlines meet proper care and the right environment, success tends to follow. Even if it means occasionally leaving mom at the starting gate.