(PHOTO - FIESTY ICON (a.k.a Ike) holds off JESSKISSMYTEXAS and ONEQUICK TRICK (2) to win the OSS Maturity on July 17 - New Image Media photo)
Ajax Downs' reigning Horse of the Year Fiesty Icon overcame a stumbling start to win the $56,750 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity on July 17 on Windreach Farm day at Ajax Downs.
The handsome sorrel 4-year-old gelding, coming off a win in one of the trials for the Maturity on July 1 surged to the lead late in the 330-yard dash and held off favoured Jesskissmytexas to win by a head under Cary Furlonger in the quick time of :16,690. The gelding's speed index of 101 was the highest of his career.
Owned and trained by Rick Kennedy, the son of Sugarman Perry - Fiesty Spirit by Special Effort was foaled in Ontario and bred by Picov Cattle Co.
"He's a little bit bigger and stronger this year," said Kennedy. "Him and Carly get along really well."
Furlonger rode Fiesty Icon in the trial victory having just returned from a broken collarbone that kept her on the sidelines until late June.
"He's an incredible animal," said Furlonger. "He's got the best personality, loves his job and tries hard for me everytime."
Fiesty Icon has won eight of 15 races and took the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby last season in his championship year. His earnings are at $98,703.
"He'll get a little bit of a break now," said Kennedy. "There are two stakes races left for him this season and we'll point to them."
More results from Sunday
It was a profitable afternoon for the combination of trainer Tom Dunlap and jockey Mike Holmes, who had been riding at Hazel Park in Michigan on Friday and Saturday, as that pair won three races of the remaining six dashes.
First Prize Oscar stormed clear to take the afternoon's first race, an optional claiming event at 400 yards, for owner Renee Dunlap and Holmes. The 4-year-old gelding by First Prize Stanley is now two for three in 2016 and it was the gelding's sixth career win from 14 races, all at Ajax Downs.
The time of the dash was :20.05, good for an impressive 97 speed index.
It looked like the team of Wilson, Dunlap and Holmes had won race two on the afternoon but their filly Winner On a Lark, the unoffical winner of the $11,500 maiden allowance, was disqualified and placed second for drifting into Hammer Tyme.
The latter, the 4 to 5 race favourite, was making his second career start for owner and breeder Big Dog Racing (Carol and Dave McIntyre) and trainer Jason Pascoe following a fifth-place finish in a trial race for the OSS Derby.
Ramiro Castillo rode Hammer Tyme, an Ontario bred by Mr Jess Tex out of Double Dashin Shazam by Shazoom.
Storytime Blue was a handy winner of race three, a speed index race at 400-yards, for owner and breeder Gary McNichol and trainer Michelle Woodley. The grey 6-year-old mare by Volcom - La Blazen by Blazen Bryan was winning for the second straight time in 2016 having won a similar race at 350-yards on July 3. Cory Spataro has ridden the mare to the consecutive wins.
Storytime Blue posted a time of :20.15 for a 94 speed index.
"I knew if she broke like she did last time we would be really tough to beat," said Spataro. "She actually ran a lot better than she did the last time. I have to hand it to Michelle and John [McInerney] as they have her in really good order right now."
It was the sixth career win for Storytime Blue from 27 starts.
The fourth race of the day was a $13,000 allowance race for Ontario-breds and heavily favoured
No Cerveza for You burst out of the gate and romped to a 1 3/4 length score in :18.04 for 350 yards, good for an 84 speed index. The bay 3-year-old filly, ridden by Brian Bell, had won her previous race, a maiden event, and has two wins in four career starts. Owned and bred by DK Trainng centre and Big Dog Racing, the daughter of Mr Jess Tex - Cerveza for Me by Corona for Me is trained by Don Reid.
Favorite Leader was the second winner on the card for Renee Wilson, trainer Tom Dunlap and jockey Mike Holmes as the 4-year-old filly took an early lead in the 250-yard claiming race and held off a fast closing Shesastreakinchick to win as the 1 to 5 favourite. This was the third career win for the Texas-bred daughter of Bigtime Favorite from 10 career starts. Her time was :13.550 for an 86 speed index.
A large field of maidens racing 300 yards for a purse of $27,000 was race six on the day and Rick Crispi's
Fast Buck completed the triple for Dunlap and Holmes as he sped to victory at 8 to 1, edging Eyesa Wild Boy and Danielle Dibert. The 3-year-old Texas-bred by Teller Cartel - Miss Jess Rogue by Mr Jess Perry was making his fourth start of the season since coming to ONtario from a campaign at Lone Star and Remington Park in 2015. The gelding raced 300-yards in :15.660 which was a 92 speed index.
Rainas Eagle was declared a non-starter as the gates sprung open before that filly had taken her place in the gate.
Racing continues on Thursday at Ajax for the first twiligth card of the 2016 season. Post time for the first race is 3:45 p.m. Legendary jockeys Sandy Hawley and Francine Villeneuve will be on hand and there is a Handicapping Contest on-track with prizes and proceeds going to the Rouge Valley Health System.
(PHOTO BELOW - CARLY FURLONGER and RICK KENNEDY with their champion FIESTY ICON - New Image Media Photo)
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