AJAX DOWNS, OCTOBER 27, 2021 - On a sparkling fall afternoon, the stakes action was hot at Ajax Downs on the biggest day of its 2021 Quarter Horse season. The marquee event of the exciting afternoon, which had a big crowd abuzz, was the $115,290 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity at 400-yards for 2-year-olds, the richest Quarter Horse race in Canada, won by Ontario-bred
FIRST COLD WAVE.
Owned and bred by
Robert Bailey of Oakwood, ON, First Cold Wave was the third choice in the nine-horse Futurity field, those that qualified in two Time Trials on Oct. 6. Trained by Ajax Downs' leading trainer Jason Pascoe and ridden by Brian Bell, First Cold Wave was away well from post seven and chased longshot Blazin Magician before grabbing a short lead. In the final yards, owner Milena Kwiecien's pair of Eye Live for Candy and SW The Redeemer closed fast but First Cold Wave held on to win by a nose. Eye Live For Candy, with Ismael Mosquiera up, hed second over SW The Redeemer with favoured Lethal Tres Seis, who broke slowly, grabbing fourth.
The time was 20.121 into a 17 mph headwind was good for a 93 speed index. First Cold Wave paid $12,30 to win.
"He's just an awesome horse," said Bell. "I saw Ismael coming at me but this guy just jumped out a few more strides and got it done."
First Cold Wave came into the Futurity with three wins including the Ontario Sires Futurity and had finished third in Lethal Tres Seis's Trial win. The sorrel gelding is from the first crop of runners for his sire
Cold Hard Dash, owned by a syndicate of Ontario horsepeople including Bailey.
"When this guy was born he was an interesting fellow. It took him a while to pick things up but once he did he was good to go."
The winner's share of $46,117 boosted First Cold Wave's earnings to over $99,000.
*Champion Woodbine jockey
RAFAEL HERNANDEZ made his Ajax Downs debut a winning one when he guided
MARYLAND MAGIC to an upset win in the 48th Alex Picov Memorial Championship for older horses. Hernandez, the 2020 Sovereign Award winner for Outstanding Thoroughbred Jockey in Canada was lured by trainer Jason Pascoe to ride Keepr of the Stars in the Futurity but picked up the 7-year-old stallion Maryland Magic for the $49,340 Championship when Ricardo Moreno booked off his mounts.
Facing champion Had to Be Ivory, Maryland Magic broke sharply and fended off Countrys Comin Bac and Had to Be Ivory to win by a neck in 21.824 for the 440-yards, a 103 speed index. He paid $21.10 as the second longest shot in the field.
It was the 13th win in 43 starts for Maryland Magic, who also doubles as a stud for owner Milena Kwiecien and his first foals raced this year.
Champion Woodbine Thoroughbred jockey Rafael Hernandez leaps from Championship winner Maryland Magic.
Champion Woodbine Thoroughbred jockey Rafael Hernandez leaps from Championship winner Maryland Magic
*Marie Broadstock's
ALL OUTTA SUGAR, trained by Don Reid, won the $52,560 Ontario Sires Stakes Derby for 3-year-olds earlier in the day. Ridden by Ramiro Castillo, All Outta Sugar had a short lead throughout the 350-yard dash and won by half a length over James Bogar's Bogie Wheels. A son of Sugarman Perry, All Outta Sugar ($11.50) was winning his first stakes race and his second race in his ninth career start. He raced the distance in 18.203 for an 83 speed index.
All Outta Sugar scores a sweet win in the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby.
All Outta Sugar scores a sweet win in the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby
*The
2021 Ajax Downs season wraps up next Wednesday, November 3 with its final card beginning at 12:55 p.m. Fans can register to attend the final day of racing by visiting
www.ajaxdowns.com. Follow Ajax Downs on social media for updates and news.
Video of the full day of racing, Oct. 27 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqO-skF1Q-0
More Top Racing Headlines