Korona's Plate Star Caitlinhergrtness

Path from Fitness to Horse Breeding Success

Jesse Korona understands the commitment required to bring out the best in an athlete. A professional fitness trainer in Etobicoke, Ontario, Korona has spent years guiding others toward achieving their health and fitness ambitions. However, his passions extend beyond the gym; a lifelong love for animals, particularly Thoroughbreds, led him down a surprising path. In just under six years since purchasing his first racehorse, Korona has already bred a champion, joining the prestigious ranks of Canadian horse breeders.

Among Korona’s achievements is Caitlinhergrtness, a three-year-old filly he bought as an unborn foal at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2020 for $40,000. This summer, Caitlinhergrtness captured the 165th King’s Plate at Woodbine, etching Korona’s name into Canada’s elite list of breeders. Korona recounted the thrilling experience, sharing that he and his family had cheered from home as they watched the filly cross the finish line first. Later, she went on to secure a respectable third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on grass at Keeneland in October.

Like many fans of horse racing, Korona’s introduction to the sport began with family; he recalled hearing his uncle enthusiastically discuss horses and racing when he was just a child. Although Korona’s parents discouraged him from attending the track, he watched races on TV, captivated by horses like Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, and Canadian legends With Approval and Izvestia.

Initially, Korona pursued baseball, even playing at a collegiate level and competing against players who would go on to the major leagues. He eventually studied history at the University of Toronto, with minors in geography and politics. In 2009, he established his business, Target Training, aiming to help clients create personalised fitness programs and assisting athletes in reaching peak condition. His passion for animals, however, persisted, and he began breeding canaries while never quite abandoning his interest in horses and racing.

“It’s the perfect mix of competition and animals,” he said, explaining why horse racing appealed to him so deeply.

High-Stakes Racing

An unexpected encounter at his local barbershop led him to one of Canada’s top trainers, Reade Baker. The shop was a gathering place for racing enthusiasts, and Korona learned that Baker, a local resident, could guide him in the sport. Korona reached out, expressing his interest in claiming a horse.

While Korona had already immersed himself in studying racing and pedigrees, Baker’s insights provided a deeper understanding of the commercial side of breeding. Korona’s first purchase, a filly named Court Central, won a race before he sold her, followed by another horse that was sold to a buyer in Turkey. Korona soon found himself with more horses than he could manage, prompting him to downsize his stable.

Breeding Majestic Champions

In November 2020, Korona’s pursuit of a high-quality broodmare became more intense. Working with Baker at the Keeneland sale, he sought a mare in foal to Omaha Beach, a rising star and multiple Grade 1-winning son of War Front. After nearly giving up due to high prices, Baker informed him of a mare named Belatrix that hadn’t met her reserve and could be purchased for $40,000. Korona leapt at the chance, even turning down an immediate offer to resell the mare at a profit.

The following spring, Belatrix gave birth to a striking chestnut filly. Korona decided to sell her as a weanling at Keeneland’s November sale, though she fetched $65,000—less than he anticipated. As a yearling, Caitlinhergrtness would go on to sell for $160,000 and later for $375,000 as a two-year-old in training, purchased by Siena Farm and WinStar.

The filly was trained by one of the world’s best, Todd Pletcher, and she won her maiden race in her second start on Aqueduct’s dirt track. After a few underwhelming races, she was moved to Ontario and placed under Kevin Attard, a renowned Canadian trainer. Attard quickly prepared her for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, where she excelled, finishing a strong second. Though initially ineligible for the Canadian Triple Crown, WinStar’s Elliott Walden decided to pay the $25,000 supplemental fee, securing her entry in the King’s Plate.

Korona recalled standing on edge as Caitlinhergrtness raced, before rising and proclaiming, “She’s going to win!” And win she did—overcoming My Boy Prince to claim the top share of the $1 million prize, a milestone achievement for Korona, who had only recently entered the breeding world.

Another filly Korona bred in 2021, Dazzling Move, also showed potential for high-calibre races like the Oaks but remained stateside. Meanwhile, Korona continued his breeding efforts, selling a colt for $45,000 at the 2024 CTHS Ontario sale, though like many sellers, he found the yearling market challenging. He also sold Belatrix for $11,000 to an American buyer last fall.

Looking to the future, Korona is hopeful about a colt he bred in partnership with Shirley Camilleri of Camhaven Farm. The colt, sired by champion Classic Empire, may just be his next big success. Reflecting on his journey, Korona expressed fascination with the world of breeding, calling horses “majestic creatures” and describing the experience as a continual learning process.