(PHOTO - The flashy and fast SUNDANCE SATIN is shown winning the Maple Leaf Derby on July 15, 2007 under Ramon Dominguez - Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
The Horse That Changed My Life
For Rick Crispi, one of Ajax Downs’ leading owners, Quarter Horse racing in Ontario has given him dozens of great memories and so many wonderful horses. Crispi figures he has had about 30 stakes winners over the years and he can easily rhyme off a litany of those favourite runners.
There is one who stands out to him, however, and that horse’s photo is prominent in his office at Evergreen Brands in Brampton.
“Sundance Satin was a big, sweet guy,” said Crispi. “He was one of those beautiful, sorrel geldings and an outstanding individual.”
And fast too.
Sundance Satin was bought by Crispi at a yearling sale in Texas in 2005. A son of Feature Mr Jess, the Texas-bred youngster was a quick learner as he won two major events at Ajax Downs (on the old ‘J’ track) in 2006 in his juvenile season.
In July of that first season of racing, Sundance Satin won the Maple Leaf Futurity for Crispi, who was racing as Ivy Lane Racing at that time, and a month later, took the All Canadian Futurity with a 101 speed index.
It was at the age of three that Sundance Satin really blossomed, winning four of five starts including the Maple Leaf Derby by a length at 350-yards.
“He dominated here,” said Crispi, who lives in Guelph and now races horses under his own name at Ajax Downs.
Sundance Satin raced three times as a 4-year-old before he was sidelined with minor health issues. Crispi sold the gelding at the Heritage Place mixed sale in Oklahoma that fall but will never forget the shiny, speedy gelding.
“We have been blessed to have had a lot of good horses,” said Crispi, who raced the 2015 Picov Maturity winner SM Chicks N Garters in 2015.
Crispi recently returned from a trip to trainer Renee Wilson’s stable in Michigan to take a look at his potential stars of 2016.
With his eye for a good horse, perhaps there will another equine friend that will have the same impact as Sundance Satin did a decade ago.
(Photo below - RICK CRISPI (yellow) and Sundance Satin - Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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