Woodbine officials confirmed a dramatic scene unfolded Saturday when owner Bill Ulwelling collapsed moments after his horse captured the prestigious King’s Plate Stakes.
The 72-year-old Ulwelling suffered an apparent cardiac event while making his way to the winner’s circle following Mansetti’s upset victory in Canada’s oldest thoroughbred race.
“The pacemaker saved his life today,” Al Ulwelling said via text later Saturday evening.
Paramedics quickly stabilized the Minnesota-based owner, who was conscious but unable to participate in the winner’s circle celebration before being transported to a local hospital.
“They told me he was stable at that moment, and he was conscious,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “From what the paramedics said, it seems his heart stopped while he was walking down to get his photo taken and greet the horse. He has a pacemaker and it can give you a shock, and it seems like that happened a few times.”
The medical emergency overshadowed what had been a breakthrough moment for the Ulwelling family, who captured their first King’s Plate victory.
## Mansetti Silences Distance Doubters
Sent off at 18-1 despite his recent victory in the GIII Marine Stakes, Mansetti ($38.70) delivered a front-running performance that answered persistent questions about his stamina at the classic 10-furlong distance.
Under a perfectly executed ride by 20-year-old jockey Pietro Moran, the Ontario-bred son of Collected seized command early and maintained his advantage throughout, crossing the wire 2½ lengths ahead of late-closing Tom’s Magic (Justify).
Notorious Gangster (Classic Empire), the 7-2 favorite, rallied for third, while Scorching (Mo Town) held fourth after pressing the early pace.
The victory marked Moran’s first King’s Plate win in just his second attempt, having finished fourth aboard Pierre in last year’s edition. Adding to the historic nature of the race, Pietro competed against his father, David Moran, who rode William T (Frosted) to an eighth-place finish — the first father-son riding matchup in King’s Plate history.
“I am very proud of him,” Attard said of the younger Moran. “To accomplish this kind of feat at this young of an age. It is a testament to what the future holds for him.”
Moran, who began his riding career in 2023, leads all jockeys at Woodbine with 66 wins this season.
“He is just a natural,” Attard added. “He has also worked hard to get to where he is today even though it hasn’t really been that long of a journey for him. He deserves it. Winning the Plate is very special. But winning it with Pietro, is just that much more.”
## Attard Claims Hat Trick
The King’s Plate triumph highlighted a remarkable day for Attard, who completed a stakes triple when Gas Me Up captured the GII King Edward Stakes and Two Out Hero won the Soaring Free Stakes.
“It turned out to be a great day,” said Attard, who was winning his third King’s Plate after previous victories with Moira and Caitlinhergrtness. “We had been in a bit of a slump with horses getting beat by a lot or just not running up to expectations. It’s been a little frustrating.”
Mansetti broke sharply from the gate and established position along the rail as Scorching pressed through an opening quarter in :22.93. The eventual winner reached the half-mile in :47.45 before spurting clear at the quarter pole.
“When I saw the first quarter I was concerned we were going a little too quick. But then I was pleased with the half time,” Attard explained. “After that, I could see the horse was in his rhythm, so I wasn’t really watching the time at that point.”
The victory represented a significant development for Mansetti, who has shown remarkable progression from age two to three.
“I would have probably laughed, you know,” Attard said when asked if he expected this performance earlier in the colt’s career. “This horse really changed from two to three when he got back to Woodbine this season to start his 3-year-old campaign. He was just acting differently.”
## Canadian Triple Crown Aspirations
Attard indicated Mansetti will likely target the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on September 9. The second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown is contested at 1 3/16 miles on dirt.
“Honestly, I am not that concerned about the dirt,” Attard said. “The shorter distance should help him too, and he trains over the dirt. We’ll just enjoy the moment and let him dictate if he is ready to proceed on to the next leg.”
When asked about completing the Triple Crown in the 1½-mile Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine on September 28, Attard was more cautious.
“That is probably stretching it for him,” he laughed. “But you have to go one race at a time. We’ve got the first leg down and we’ll see what’ll happen with the second.”
Mansetti, a $40,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale last season, is out of Gidget Girl, also the dam of dual stakes winner Staright Up G (Straight Fire). The Ontario-bred colt has now won five of eight career starts with earnings of $689,872.
Mansetti ($38.70) goes gate-to-wire and upsets at 18/1 in the 166th King's Plate at @woodbinetb! 🏆#KP25👑
Pietro Moran was aboard for trainer @kevin_attard and owners @UlwellingRacing! pic.twitter.com/6FPJuTvrD3
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
Mansetti ($38.70) goes gate-to-wire and upsets at 18/1 in the 166th King's Plate at August 16, 2025
Saturday, Woodbine
KING’S PLATE S., C$1,002,500, Woodbine, 8-16, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:03.68, ft.
1–MANSETTI, 126, c, 3, by Collected
1st Dam: Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Surfer Girl (Brz), by Wild Event
3rd Dam: Australian Girl (Arg), by Lode
($40,000 2yo ’24 OBSAPR). O-Al and Bill Ulwelling; B-Jungle Racing, LLC (ON); T-Kevin Attard; J-Pietro Moran. C$600,000. Lifetime Record: GSW, 8-5-0-0, $689,872. *1/2 to Straight Up G (Straight Fire), MSW, $209,660.
2–Tom’s Magic, 126, c, 3, Justify–Dixie Chicken, by Rahy. ($200,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing; B-Sean Fitzhenry & Dorothy Fitzhenry (ON); T-Michael Stidham. C$200,000.
3–Notorious Gangster, 126, c, 3, Classic Empire–Sister Nova, by Verrazano. O-Mark Dodson; B-Mark Dodson (ON); T-Josie Carroll. C$100,000.
Margins: 2HF, 2, NK. Odds: 18.35, 5.80, 3.50.
