Life presented Al and Bill Ulwelling with a mix of elation and concern within moments. Their 3-year-old colt, Mansetti, secured victory in the King’s Plate, the Canadian Triple Crown’s opening event, by a margin of 2 ½ lengths. As the family made their way to the winner’s circle, Bill, the family’s senior member, experienced a heart-related issue, abruptly halting the celebration. His recovery added a deeper layer of significance to the victory.
The Shift From Spectator to Proprietor
The Ulwellings, who are the proprietors of A & B Welding & Construction Inc. located in Elk Lake, Minnesota, began their pursuit of the King’s Plate approximately 40 years ago on the inaugural day at Canterbury Downs.
“My father was very fond of wagering on the horses. As a young child, I would accompany him to Canterbury. We were present on opening day,” Al recounted. “Ever since that initial visit, we made it a tradition to return to Canterbury to place bets on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont [Stakes]. Eventually, we befriended an individual at a local establishment who owned a horse. Given our financial situation at the time, we decided to cautiously explore horse ownership. Consequently, we acquired a horse at that bar.”
Together with their friend Bob Wizcek, the duo invested in a gelding known as Diplomatic Storm. Although the horse did not achieve victory, the father and son derived pleasure from their initial venture into ownership.
“On one occasion, he achieved a fourth-place finish in Iowa [at Prairie Meadows], which resulted in earnings of approximately six hundred dollars,” Ulwelling mentioned. “We subsequently spent that sum at the bar, celebrating his fourth-place finish with great enthusiasm.”
Wizcek eventually withdrew from racing, but the father-son team remained involved, utilizing their company’s prosperity to continue their racing investments.
Over the ensuing two decades, their interests expanded to include both their stable and bloodstock. The Ulwellings maintain approximately 30 horses in training, divided between Canada and the United States, as well as six broodmares at Winchester Equine in Kentucky. Annually, they breed their mares with Kentucky stallions before relocating them to Ontario for foaling, capitalizing on the province’s advantageous programs. The King’s Plate is a prime example, restricted to Canadian-bred 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, thereby incentivizing owners to continue sending their mares northward.
“We do not engage in breeding for sales purposes, but exclusively for racing,” Ulwelling stated. The pair, along with bloodstock agent Clay Scherer, also explores sales opportunities such as the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. Spring 2-year-olds in training sale and actively claims horses. “We are open to claiming and meticulously review the Past Performances (PPs) daily, although recent prospects have not been particularly appealing to us.”
Their Canadian string is under the care of Kevin Attard, who ended Mark Casse’s 13-year streak of Sovereign Awards for outstanding trainer last year. Attard’s successful 2024 season featured a victory in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Moira, marking his first King’s Plate win in 2022, as well as a win by Caitlinhergrtness in the King’s Plate. The Ulwellings’ American string is divided between Bill Morey at Turfway Park in Kentucky and Gary Scherer at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Their involvement began at Canterbury Park near their Minnesota home, but they now favor racing at Woodbine.
“The facilities are truly world-class,” Al Ulwelling remarked. “There is a large outer turf course, an inner turf course, and the main track utilizes Tapeta [an all-weather surface], facilitating racing from mid-April through the end of December. By that time, the horses typically require a break.
“We operated a booth at Canterbury and consistently had a television tuned to Woodbine, placing wagers. I became increasingly impressed with the facilities and their vast scale. A few years prior to contacting Kevin, while achieving success at the Midwest tracks, I frequently noticed the name Attard. I was unfamiliar with him, but recognizing his success with claimers, I reasoned that acquiring a few horses there would allow us to oversee their training and visit them conveniently.
“In short, I contacted Kevin after Pumpkin Rumble, a horse we owned, competed there. I introduced myself, but he may have been skeptical, as I did not hear back for several weeks. He eventually returned my call, expressing surprise that I was serious. That marked the beginning of our association with Kevin. After the first year or two, we aspired to compete in the most prestigious races, mirroring our approach at Canterbury.”
The partnership between Attard and the Ulwellings has been prosperous. Together, they have secured two Prince of Wales Stakes victories, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie, with Haddassah in 2021 and Velocitor in 2023. Their graded stakes wins have also been in collaboration with Attard, including Pumpkin Rumble’s Grade Valedictory Stakes victories in 2018 and 2019, and Shakopee Town’s Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes win in 2019. Mansetti added another graded stakes win in June with the HPIbet Marine Stakes at Woodbine. His triumph in the King’s Plate on August 16 stands as the team’s most significant achievement to date. The memory of that day’s highs and lows remains vivid as they prepare for the Prince of Wales on September 9.
An Unforgettable Day
Initially, the Ulwellings did not consider Mansetti, a son of Collected out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, as a potential King’s Plate contender. Bred by Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing and foaled in Ontario, he was part of Eddie Woods’ consignment at the 2024 OBS Spring 2-year-olds in training sale, where Clay Scherer identified him as a suitable candidate for the Ulwellings.
“We held him in high regard. We appreciated his performance and overall qualities,” the younger Ulwelling noted. “Clay provided a target price, and we acquired him for $40,000.”
They named their new acquisition Mansetti, a name of personal significance. “Mansetti’s is a nearby pizza establishment. My wife and I have four children, and when I sensed she needed a break, we would spend an hour at Mansetti’s together,” he explained. “Naming horses can be challenging when you own many. Therefore, we attempt to name them after things we appreciate. We enjoy Mansetti’s and their pizza, hence the name.”
As a 2-year-old, the colt won his debut at six furlongs in late September, followed by a victory in the Clarendon Stakes in his third start. To commence his 3-year-old season, Attard transported him to Aqueduct for his initial trial on the dirt.
“We believed he was a promising horse and entered him in the Jerome [Stakes] at Aqueduct. He had been training exceptionally well. However, his fifth-place finish in the Jerome led us to believe he was better suited for sprints and not the Plate. We decided to put him aside, focusing on Woodbine in the spring,” Ulwelling recalled.
Returning to the Tapeta all-weather surface after his unplaced finish in the Jerome, Mansetti subsequently won the listed Woodstock Stakes at six furlongs.
“I asked Kev if he still believed Mansetti was just a sprinter, given his easy victory.”
Two starts later, Mansetti secured a one-length victory in the Marine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
“Following that race, I suggested taking a shot at the Plate, bypassing the Plate Trial [Stakes] and opting for six weeks of focused training leading up to the King’s Plate. We wanted a fresh horse with ample stamina to cover the distance, as we recognized his tactical speed. Kevin’s training further enhanced his potential, and he peaked at the opportune moment.”
The Ulwellings entered Mansetti and Faber, their gelding by Improbable, in the 1 ¼-mile King’s Plate.
“We believed Faber was capable of handling the distance, despite some challenging trips. We were confident in his ability to cover the distance, provided he had a favorable trip,” the owner explained. “Mansetti’s ability to handle the mile and a quarter was uncertain.”
However, Attard’s father, Tino, favored the Collected colt over his stablemate, informing the Ulwellings of his preference on the morning of the Plate.
“I didn’t even have the chance to inquire if he had wagered on him,” Al chuckled.
From the winner’s circle, Al Ulwelling and his wife Gabriella observed the race. “When they posted :23.47 [for the opening quarter-mile], I thought we wouldn’t even be in contention. I anticipated Faber’s challenge due to his stamina. I started searching for Faber, anticipating Mansetti might falter. But then I saw the 1:12 mark, and he was still performing well, with [jockey] Pietro [Moran] not pushing him too hard. I began cheering for Mansetti. He surprised us.
“He’s a delightful horse to own. I believe he’s progressing well, improving with each race.”
Just as the Ulwellings were experiencing a classic triumph, life intervened. As Al and Gabriella proceeded toward the winner’s circle, they realized Bill was missing.
“I attempted to delay the proceedings, thinking my father was simply conversing with someone. However, my wife received a call from our friend, and I overheard our last name on the EMS radio. I knew something was amiss.”
As the elder Ulwelling descended the steps toward Woodbine’s apron to join the festivities in the winner’s circle, he suffered a heart attack. His pacemaker provided sufficient jolts to sustain his heart rhythm while paramedics attended to him. He was stabilized for transport to a local hospital. Upon returning home to the Minneapolis area, his cardiologist contacted him, emphasizing the severity of his condition and the need for immediate evaluation, noting that his heart had stopped beating five times.
“My father has a history of electrical issues with his heart,” Al explained. “He experienced a major heart issue when we won the Prince of Wales, which led to the insertion of his pacemaker. Then, during the [King’s] Plate, it happened again. He will refrain from attending live racing until his condition is properly managed.”
With their father recovering, the Ulwellings eagerly anticipate Mansetti and Faber competing in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales Stakes on September 9. Following the eventful King’s Plate, the younger Ulwelling hopes for a more predictable day at Fort Erie.
“I believe it will be an enjoyable day. Both of our horses are in good health, and we have another opportunity. I anticipate Faber will perform exceptionally well. Similar to Mansetti, he is currently my favorite horse, and I am excited about his prospects.”
The American father-son duo has achieved success at our northern neighbor’s racetracks and hopes to continue this for years to come.
“We’ve been fortunate up there,” Al Ulwelling acknowledged. “We plan to maintain our efforts and strive for further victories.”
Ideally, with everyone healthy and united in the winner’s circle.
