August 30, 2022
By Ajax Downs / Jennifer Morrison
AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 30, 2022 - There will be two afternoons of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs this week as we move into September. On Wednesday, August 31 there are six competitive races scheduled including a very competitive field of 3 and 4-year-olds in race 5.
Among the contenders in the 330-yard sprint that offers an $11,000 purse is MAGIC FLARE, who was the first starter, and first winner for her 20-year-old trainer LAUREN SPADA.
Ontario Bred Magic Flare won an allowance race on Aug. 10 by a length under jockey Helen Vanek for Spada, one of the country's youngest racehorses trainers.
Spada, a third-generation horsewoman, took over the stable of horses trained by her father Craig, who owns Magic Flare. When Magic Flare sped to victory on Aug. 10, Lauren said her grandfather, the late Peter Spada, also a horseman, was in her thoughts.
"I was more than excited [racing her first horse]," said Spada. "I was talking to my grandpa before the race, asking him for some luck."
Spada will also send out the 2-year-old filly SEISMICK, who is in race 5 on Wednesday.
Seismick, owned by her father and friend Matt Storms, is making her fifth career start and she comes out of a very troubled journey in the Ontario Sires Futurity on Aug. 17. The stocky filly was third in a previous race when meeting fellow maidens.
Another Spada starter is JESSAPRIMADONNA, a speedy stakes-winning filly who is entered in race 4.
First race post time on Wednesday 1:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Sept. 4 of the Labour Day long weekend, Ajax Downs will host its annual Race for the United Way Day with a silent auction, prizes, mascot race and $2 betting voucher for a donation to the United Way BackPack Program.
Sunday's first race post time is 12:55 and the featured race is the final of the $50,000 Picov Derby for 3-year-olds.
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