AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 8 2021 - The seven-year-old stallion
MARYLAND MAGIC, who does double duty as a stud (in the spring) and racehorse, posted a mild upset in the
third leg of the $20,760 QROOI Sprint Series at Ajax Downs on September 8. Owned by Milena Kwiecien of Burlington, ON and trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, Maryland Magic was making his first appearance in the Sprint Series in 2021 and had only raced as short as 250 yards once in his previous 39 races, a fourth-place finish in his debut in 2016.
The handsome son of top U.S. stallion Pyc Paint Your Wagon was quick out of the gate under jockey Ismael Mosquiera on Wednesday, dueled his stablemate Carneros briefly before edging clear to win by three-quarters of a length over even-money favourite Jess a Sweet Suprize, who had won the first two legs of the Sprint Series. Carneros was a nose back in third. The time for the 250-yards was 13.044 for a 105 speed index.
It was the first stakes victory for Maryland Magic who paid $9.60 to win as the third choice.
"I had always ridden against him," said Mosquiera, who won two races on the day. "I was a little scared of [Jess a Sweet Surprise] and Carneros and a bit about the short distance but on post parade he was very sharp. He broke on top and never came back."
Maryland Magic now has 12 victories in 40 career races and earnings of over $127,000. Maryland Magic has two winning 2-year-olds this year from his first four foals to race.
Jess A Sweet Suprize, a five-year-old mare owned and trained by Craig Spada, with two wins and a second in the three-race Sprint Series, will be honoured as the series champion at the annual awards dinner early in 2022.
*Jockey
Cory Spataro, of Innisfil, continues his hot streak in the saddle with his second consecutive four-win day. Spataro won two races each for trainers Craig Spada and Joe Tavares on the nine-race card. He has ridden eight winners in the last 18 races and his 22 victories leads all jockeys after 13 days of the season.
*Racing continues at Ajax Downs on a Wednesday schedule through November 3 but
post time for the first race will be 12:55 p.m. beginning next week, Sept. 15. Next week's feature is the final of the $60,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity for 2-year-olds. Fans can pre-register to attend the races at
www.ajaxdowns beginning Sept. 13. Follow us on social media @AjaxDowns.
Video - QROOI Sprint Series - 3 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaGZvWPrWRs
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