Milena Kwiecien's homebred COUNTRYFRIED CHICKEN won the fastest two Trials for the upcoming Ontario Bred Derby on a beautiful summer afternoon at Ajax Downs. The Derby, for 3-year-old Quarter Horses foaled in Ontario, is worth $50,000 and the final will be held on August 11 for the 10 fastest qualifiers from two trials held Wednesday.
Countryfried Chicken (
pictured), trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, ON, was quick out of the gate in the second of the two 300-yard qualifiers and held a short lead over his rivals to the finish, edging Twixt of Fate, owned by Englehart's Richard Wincikaby, by a head. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to Whos Hot Now, a filly owned by Marie Broadstock and Josee Paiment. Ridden by Helen Vanek, Countryfried Chicken, a son of Country Chicks Man, stopped the teletimer in a fast 15.384 for a career best 95 speed index. He paid $3.20 to win as the heavy favourite following the late scratch of early choice Perrier Special.
In the first Trial, HAD TO BE RELENTLESS put in a sustained late run to just grab the win by a neck in 15.508 for a 91 speed index. The bay son of He's Relentless is owned and was bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson of Hillsburgh and trained by Bryn Robertson. Had to Be Relentless is a half brother to 2019 Horse of the Year Had to Be Ivory, also bred and raced by the Robertsons. Had to Be Relentless paid $3,50 as the public choice.
Whisky James, owned by Anna Rosiak, led late in the race and held second, a neck over Bogie Wheels, owned by Cameron's James Bogar.
It was a big day for Had to Be Relentless's jockey Ismael Mosquiera who won four of the nine races on the afternoon, to land himself in a tie for leading rider at the 2021 meeting with Cory Spataro, each with 10 wins. Three of Mosquera's wins came on horses trained by Jason Pascoe, who also won four on the day to give him a meet-leading 15 victories.
The 10 qualifiers for the Ontario Bred Derby final are listed below.
Racing at Ajax Downs continues next Wednesday, August 4 and fans can register at
www.ajaxdowns.com to reserve a spot to attend the races. First race post time is 1:30 p.m.
Keep up on all the Quarter Horse news from Ajax Downs by following us @AjaxDowns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
New Image Media photo
Top 10 Qualifiers for $50,000 Ontario Bred Derby, August 11
Horse Race# Post Pos. Time Trainer Jockey Owner
1 Countryfried Chicken 6 3 15.384 1 Pascoe Vanek Kwiecien
2 Twixt of Fate 6 8 15.415 2 Woodley Spataro Wincikaby
3 Had to be Relentness 5 9 15.508 1 Robertson Mosqueira Robertson
4 Whisky James 5 3 15.544 2 Pascoe Spataro Rosiak
5 Bogie Wheels 5 7 15.581 3 Wood Phillips Bogar
6 Whos Hot Now 6 5 15.669 3 Broadstock Mosqueira Broadstock/Paiement
7 Hanover Hill Lynda 5 1 15.797 4 Tavares Bell Picov Cattle
8 Jess Raven 6 2 15.798 4 Reid, S Scott Raven Racing
9 Hanover Hill Theresa 5 8 15.808 5 Tavares Jeschke Picov Cattle
10 Memory of Griffin 5 6 15.843 6 Lehtinen Castillo Lehtinen
July 28 Full card Livestream Video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsEQ4YyRUG4
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