Milton, ON — When it comes to his admiration for Beau Jangles, Dr. Adam Ainspan is proud to own it – literally and figuratively.
It’s been a thrill ride, to say the least, for Ainspan and the ownership group behind the fleet-footed 2-year-old pacing sensation. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained colt brings a perfect 11-for-11 record into the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace final on Friday evening (Oct. 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
“I was always positive about him,” said Ainspan. “Am I surprised where we are right now? Yes. Who wouldn’t be? But am I shocked? Absolutely not. I have been telling my family, partners and others that this guy looked special from day one.”
Ainspan, a veterinarian like Moore, co-owns Beau Jangles with his wife, Mary Beth Roberts, under the Graham Grace Stables LLC banner – a nod to their children’s middle names. The partnership also includes Anne Hooper and Jonathan Roberts (Kiwi Stables LLC); Ed, Garth and Philip Bolton; and John Draper (Bolton Stables).
“If you go back 20-plus years ago, I wanted to get into Standardbred racing – horse racing in general – and it took me a while to pick a trainer,” recalled Ainspan, who lives in Virginia. “Eventually, after meeting a few people, I asked (William) Bib Roberts to train. We picked a horse named No Wishes.”
No Wishes, a son of No Nukes, registered C$391,782 in purse earnings. His speed badge of 1:51.4 came at Virginia’s Colonial Downs in 2004.
“Bib’s son, Jonathan, is a driver,” said Ainspan. “I learned a lot from Bib, we got along really well, and I got to know his family. Since we did well with that horse, we got another one named Instigator, who did well, too. And then came Great George Two.”
The son of Hobokenbahamamamas went on to record C$448,132 in purse earnings.
Over the years, Ainspan has also enjoyed success with Call Me Goo, winner of the 2024 Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot, who will look to defend that title on Saturday, and Thoroughbred standout Harlan Estate, who captured the $500,000 Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs in 2023.
But his latest equine star may be his brightest yet.
“I didn’t know the Boltons, but I asked around to see if any partners wanted to come in with Beau Jangles. After meeting them, they seemed like great people, and they bought in. It makes the decisions very easy. Everybody has their say, and the ultimate decisions are made in a congenial way. It’s been a pleasure.”
It all started with a yearling video of Beau Jangles – originally named TH Bo Jangles (the “TH” for breeder Tara Hills Stud) – that caught Ainspan’s eye.
That video led to a $65,000 purchase by Ainspan and company at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg.
“I told Jonathan [Roberts] that I really liked this horse. I asked Ian and Jonathan to look at him. John said he looked good, but he was big. Ian said almost the identical thing. I told them he looked very athletic to me, so let’s buy him. They sort of tried to talk me out of it, but we ended up buying him.
When did Ainspan know the son of Cattlewash had superstar potential?
“The second I saw him. I didn’t know his mindset – which is extremely important – but when I saw his video, I was immediately impressed. He moves like a good Thoroughbred turf horse. In other words, they have that extension of their legs and turn of foot, in which they elegantly float over the surface. That’s what I – and I think a lot of people – look for in a turf horse. Their big feet just float over the grass, and that’s what his video looked like.
“When I saw it, I turned to my wife and half-jokingly said, ‘This could be the greatest racehorse ever.’ In the spring, Ian would say that he looks pretty good, and I told him, again half-jokingly, ‘He will be the greatest racehorse ever.’ But I still didn’t know this horse’s attitude, which is obviously extremely crucial.”
The first foal out of the Art Major mare Mrs Major Hill has been a force from day one.
He debuted with a 1:50.1, three-length romp in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event on July 5. His most recent win, a 1:49.1 victory in his C$34,250 Breeders Crown elimination last Friday, marked his 11th consecutive win.
“He was pretty full of himself there tonight, and around the last turn, I was trying to rate him as best I could, and down the lane, he just took off,” said driver Bob McClure after the race. “Then, halfway down the stretch, he does this thing, he puts his ears up and kind of looks for company, but he drove strong right through the wire. He was tough just to get pulled up tonight – he was really full of himself tonight. It’s amazing, you know, the racing he’s done that he just seems to be getting stronger.”
Trainer Ian Moore echoed that sentiment:
“It’s been great so far, but this is the horse business, and as you know, a lot can happen. But so far, so good.”
Ainspan is taking a similarly grounded view heading into the Breeders Crown final.
“Anything can happen in a horse race,” he said of the horse whose resume also includes a victory in the C$1 million Metro Stakes on Sept. 20. “But he sure is a joy to watch.”
Ainspan likens Beau Jangles to two remarkable athletes – one equine, one human.
“He almost seems like Flightline when I tell people what he is doing,” said Ainspan, in reference to the Thoroughbred who won the Malibu Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, Pacific Classic and 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was retired undefeated after six starts.
“I also tell people he is like LeBron James because he is just so big and athletic – that is why I say that. LeBron can be the strong forward/center, or he can be a point guard. That’s where Beau is at. He has a really quick turn of foot that goes along with his stride, which makes him very difficult to beat.”
Ainspan, who will be trackside, along with his wife, for the Breeders Crown, won’t be pacing the apron on the big night.
“I am completely relaxed, to be honest. The length of his stride at the end is so much further than the other horses. I just see what an incredible athlete he is. I shake my head at how he glides along.
“To see the excitement in Canada, that people feel like it is their own horse – that makes it even more fun. It brings a lot of joy to our family.”
And to a tight-knit ownership group hoping for a crowning moment on one of harness racing’s biggest stages.