Obituary: Brnjas Trained Canadian Champion Johnny Bear
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Photo: Michael Burns
Ashlee Brnjas (right) in the winner’s circle with Johnny Bear following the 2017 Norther Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine
Trainer Ashlee Brnjas, who primarily raced at Woodbine and Fort Erie in Ontario, has died at the age of 40.
After starting her equine career with hunter/jumpers, Brnjas took the advice of her father, John, and moved over to training Thoroughbreds for his Colebrook Farms. Brnjas made her official training debut in 2007, earned her first of 11 stakes victory in 2009, and conditioned the winners of 317 races and $10.6 million during her career.
Brnjas notably campaigned two-time Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) winner Johnny Bear for Colebrook Farms and Bear Stables. The English Channel gelding gave Brnjas the biggest victory of her career when at 6 years old he captured the 2017 Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine, running down the previous year's Coral-Eclipse (G1) winner Hawkbill by a head.
"It hasn't even hit me yet," Brnjas said after the race. "I don't know when it will. I literally didn't sleep for the last three days knowing I was running in a grade 1."
Johnny Bear was later named Canada's champion turf male of 2017. He won the Northern Dancer Turf again in 2018.
Colebrook homebred Hit This Town won the seventh race at Fort Erie Sept. 27 with Brnjas listed as his trainer. With Helen Vanek up, the 3-year-old Ami's Holiday gelding captured his first win in five starts.