In the three juvenile races run so far in 2025, trainer Gary Subratie, currently third on the top conditioner’s list has emerged as the standout, securing two of the three contests with promising two-year-olds. His first strike came in August with Salute The Don, followed by a decisive win on Saturday, September 13, with God’s Plan.
Both winners were sired by Aveenu Malcainu, with God’s Plan out of Fearless Abi, bred and owned by Oakridge Farms. The pair mark a notable shift for Subratie, who traditionally exercises caution when introducing his juveniles to competitive racing.
“That’s true. I usually wait,” Subratie admitted in a post-race interview with this website. “But when the knees are closed and the young ones show real potential, I’ll give them their chance. Remember, Wow Wow—one of the best two-year-olds to grace the local track started early and went on to win 11 straight, including the Classic 2000 Guineas.”
Subratie then detailed his approach in preparing God’s Plan for his debut.
“He showed promise from early, but I didn’t want to run him in the first juvenile race over three furlongs. Based on his morning spins, he looked more comfortable going four. That extra furlong made the difference.”
On race day, God’s Plan, piloted by Dane Dawkins, broke alertly and immediately engaged in a three-way battle for the lead with Maybelle (Clive Lynch) and Fidelity (Shane Ellis). The trio separated from the pack, with God’s Plan and Maybelle pulling clear in the stretch. In the final furlong, God’s Plan asserted his class, finishing strongly to win. Fidelity held on for third.
“He ran just as I expected—strong, determined, and full of heart,” Subratie said. “He’s a good one in the making.”
God’s Plan clocked 48.0 seconds for the four furlongs, confirming his trainer’s instincts and adding another layer to Subratie’s evolving juvenile strategy.
