Northfield, OH – Fans don’t often hear about the beginnings of the lives of harness racing champions. Winbak Farm, second in North America in 2025 earnings and wins of horses they have bred, is one farm who shares the beginnings of many of their foals by posting pictures and updates on their multiple social media platforms and website. And In Saturday’s (Aug. 9) Grade 2 $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, at MGM Northfield Park, they account for two of the top 3-year-olds entered: Fast Choice and Smooth Dream.
Both Fast Choice and Smooth Dream were born and raised at the farm’s main location, in Chesapeake City, Md. The work to produce these two stakes winners began long before the horses were born. From healthy and well-pedigreed broodmares to deciding what sires to match them with, every detail is meticulously planned out each year.
“We work hard to keep our broodmares happy and healthy,” said Jack Burke, Winbak Farm’s General Manager. “We do our best to keep the mare and foal in the best condition possible to allow the foals to grow strong and hopefully develop into a fast athlete.”
All the puzzle pieces came together with being the breeders of Fast Choice and Smooth Dream, and the proof is in the pudding with over $575,000 in career earnings between the geldings.
Fast Choice was a bargain buy for Ashley and Jared Bako, who purchased the gelding for just $13,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
“I just had a feeling about Fast Choice when he entered the sales ring,” said Ashley Bako, Fast Choice’s owner.
Listening to her intuition has turned into quite the reward as Fast Choice has amassed just shy of $325,000 in career earnings. Fast Choice has not only been a great racehorse, but the entire family has a special bond with Fast Choice.
“Following the Bako Racing page on Facebook, you see the entire family interact with him, including their young daughter. It really shows how special he is to their family,” said Burke.
Fast Choice showed a lot of promise at 2 by kicking off his career with four straight victories, including a 1:50.3 effort at Vernon Downs.
Following two starts in a row where he made breaks, his connections and their veterinarian team found their star gelding had a reason for those issues.
“He had a chip in his right hind ankle,” said Bako. “We sent him for surgery to remove the chip and rehabbed him in our own backyard.”
As Fast Choice recovered from his surgery, the Bakos were unsure of what kind of racehorse he would be. Returning to the races at the start of his 3-year-old campaign, Fast Choice took his first start to really get going and started off the year needing a refresher.
“We promised ourselves that no matter what, we would take it start by start because he owes us nothing,” said Bako. “After his first start at Saratoga, he started to show signs of his old self and the lights finally came back on.”
After a fourth-place finish in his Pepsi North America Cup elimination, he steamrolled from off the pace and finished only a length behind Madden Oaks and Louprint in the Grade 1 $740,000 final.
“His constant desire to show up week in and week out are just incredible to be part of; we have nothing but love and respect for him,” said Bako.
Entering the Grade 2 $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, Fast Choice has reeled off two straight victories, including setting a divisional track record while winning a New York Sire Stakes leg at Batavia Downs Gaming in his last start.
Fast Choice, a son of Little Brown Jug Champion Courtly Choice, has been fun to watch for Winbak Farm, especially considering Winbak Farm was also the breeder of the sire.
“Courtly Choice was an orphan foal and the last son of Hall of Fame broodmare Lady Ashlee Ann, who also produced millionaire Betterthancheddar. She is also the second dam of the fastest racehorse of all time, Bulldog Hanover,” said Burke. “Courtly Choice has been an amazing asset to Winbak Farm, both on and off the track.”
Smooth Dream is the only horse in the field entering Saturday’s event undefeated in 2025. Lightly staked, Smooth Dream will have the chance to dance a Grand Circuit dance against some of harness racing’s best on Saturday.
With victories in the $225,000 New Jesey Sire Stakes Final, $50,000 Home Grown Stakes and the $31,825 Tompkins-Geers, the son of Cattlewash has put together a strong resume, earning him a berth into Northfield Park’s signature event.
Trainer Noel Daley is optimistic about Smooth Dream’s chances on Saturday.
“We don’t really know how good he is yet as he hasn’t faced Open company,” said Daley. “He has managed to win a few times when he has looked beaten; hopefully that’s a trait he continues and does what he has to do on Saturday.”
Smooth Dream’s sire, Cattlewash, currently standing at Tara Hills Farm in Ontario, has already proven to be one of the top pacing stallions in North America.
“We are very proud of the foals that Cattlewash has produced with our mares,” said Burke. “Cattlewash’s dam, Road Bet, was actually bred by Winbak Farm.”
Winbak Farm recognizes the importance of spreading the word about harness racing and the beginnings of champions.
“Smooth Dream is a half-brother to Canadian Horse of the Year Desperate Man,” said Burke. “We have shared all of Desperate Man’s accomplishments, which continue to grow, on our social media platforms. And we look forward to continuing to share updates, not only for these brothers, but all winning Winbak-bred horses.”