Page 17 - Canada Spring 2019

the keys to the success for the rest of Toughie’s career.
William says that Toughie was particular about who worked with her, and definitely had her favorite people, including his daughter Haley. Toughie then put her stamp on Alberta, winning the last 2 races of her 2015 year in the trials and then the final of Alberta’s premier race of the 2-year-old season – the Canada Cup Futurity, running the 400 yards in :19.83, a 102 speed index.
Toughie’s 3-year-old season was just as impressive. She started 6 times, winning both the AQHA Evergreen Park Derby Challenge (which qualified her for the final at Los Alamitos) and the Canada Quarter Horse Derby. In her final race of the season, the AQHA Derby Championship Stakes at Los Alamitos, Toughie ran a very close third, winning $20,000 USD. The filly that won that race, Jess Good Reason, went on to be a Champion.
As a 4 year old, Toughie started 7 times, winning four, including the
AQHA Distaff Challenge and the AQHA aged stakes.
2018 would be the last year that this sound little 5-year-old mare would run. She started 8 times, finishing the year with 5 wins and
2 seconds. She finished her last
year with a win at Century Downs. It was an emotional year for all of Toughie’s connections, as they knew it would be her last.
Toughie ran against and beat the best that Western Canada had to offer over and over again. Trainer William Leech says, “She ran against the big, older geldings and kicked their butts.”
Everyone involved with Toughie says that she is one of the top horses they have ever worked with.
Toughie’s next career will be as
a broodmare. Chuck Stojan says
he will breed her in 2019 to his
own stallion Hortons Specialissue. Sarah Stojan posted a comment
on Facebook after Toughie retired: “Toughie, we admire your heart and try to thank you for all of the joy, excitement and pride you have given us! We are proud that she retires 100% sound, and cannot wait to have some Toughie babies.”
Toughie after her win at the RMTC Bonus Challenge Alberta Aged Series at Rocky Mountain Turf Club.
SPEEDHORSE CANADA, Spring 2019 17
Coady Photography