(Photo - COUNTRY BOY 123, a leading contender for Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs for 2016, goes for some light exercise on Oct. 12 under the lights at Los Alamitos in Cypress, California. The 3-year-ld is readying for the Oct. 29 final of the Adequan Derby. Bryanne Langford photo)
9PHOTO ABOVE - RPAINTED PISTOL (at left) has his buddy COUNTRY BOY 123 at Los Alamitos - Bryanne Langford photo)
Country Boy 123, winner of the Picov Derby and Adequan Ajax Challenge, has arrived at Los Alamitos in Cyrpress, California for his date with the Grade 2 Adequan Championship on Oct. 29.
Dr. Ruth Barbour’s big dark bay 3-year-old, vanned to Kentucky and then was flown to California where he was greeted by Bryanne Langford who also has Milena Kwiecien’s Rpainted Pistol, who will race in the $150,000 John Deere Championship for 2-year-olds.
Both geldings are among the leaders of the top Quarter Horses at Ajax Downs and both will be under the care of Ontario trainer Jason Pascoe and Langford. Pascoe trains Rpainted Pistol in Ontario and will be subbing for Bryn Robertson for Country Boy 123.
All horses scheduled to compete in the Bank of America Racing Challenge Championship races were required to be on the Los Alamitos grounds by Oct. 12 to undergo hair testing for clenbuterol.
Country Boy 123, a winner of six races this year and the leading point earner for 3-year-olds on the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario standings, galloped under the lights at Los Alamitos on Wed. morning.
“He is such a laid-back horse, that is why I decided to send him,” said Dr. Barbour, who has a veterinary practice in Hillsburgh, ON and is also a Thoroughbred owner and breeder. Her gelding, who cost $7,200 (US) at the 2014 Heritage Place yearling sale in Oklahoma, could have up to 11 rivals in the 400-yard dash. There are 11 stakes races scheduled for the Oct. 29 card at Los Alamitos.
Rpainted Pistol, purchased privately by Pascoe for Kwiecien earlier this year, is the second horse that Pascoe and his partner Langford have taken to the track. The couple had Streakinshagginwagon at Los Alamitos for the John Deer Championship three years ago and the gelding finished sixth before going on to a Horse of the Year campaign in 2014.
“I think it will be a tough race, horses are coming from all over the continent,” said Pascoe about Rpainted Pistol’s 350-yard John Deer final. “He’s an awful nice little horse, though and he likes what he does.”
Pascoe flew down to Los Alamitos on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to check on his two charges before he returns to race at Ajax Downs on Monday.
The final qualifying races for the Adequan Derby and John Deer were held at Will Rogers Downs on Oct. 9. Country Mans Jazz won the Will Rogers Adequan Challenge while First Rate Return qualified for the John Deere final.
(photo below - COUNTRY BOY 123 and his owner Dr. Ruth Barbour on their final Ontario ride before he left for Los Alamitos - photo courtesy Ruth Barbour)
$200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) - Oct. 29
Horse Qualifying Race/Date Owner Trainer Jockey
For Sweet Jess Sun Downs / May 7 Ruben Magallanes Hector Magallanes Eduardo Gutierrez
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Magic Moment Blues
BM Casina Royale Sam Houston / May 16 Bobby Myers JUdd Kearl Rodrigo Vallejo
ALSO ELIGIBLE -Mazzimo
Air Force Won Arapahoe Park / June 4 Vences Quarter Horce Alejandro Chavez Ramiro H Garcia
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Royal Quick Eagle
Lonely In Front BR Hipodromo / June 26 Ismael Garcia Hernandez Luis Aldo Flores Eddie Cuellar
ALSO ELIGIBLE -BP Apolliticalpolicy
BF Fooserageous Ruidoso Downs / July 2 Birrell Farms Wesley Giles Adrian A Ramos
ALSO ELIGIBLE - The Fiscal Cliff
Toughie Evergreen Park / July 31 Charles G Stojan William Leech Ricardo Moreno
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Flybye 109
My Moment Of Fame Retama Park / August 13 Holly Hooper Angel Sanchez Luis L Vivanco
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Mazzimo
Country Boy 123 Ajax Downs / August 14 Ruth Barbour Bryn Robertson Cory Spataro
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Seis Zoom
Time For Jess Los Alamitos / August 19 Spackman Racing Lin Melton Carlos M Huerta
ALSO ELIGIBLE - El Compa JV
Jess Paint Your Lips Prairie Meadows / September 17 Michael Pohl / Leann Burns Stacy CharetteJorge Torres
ALSO ELIGIBLE - PYC Mischief
Country Mans Jazz Will Rogers / October 9 Sarah Huskey Richard Robinson Silva Agustin
$150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) Oct. 29
Horse Qualifying Race/Date Owner Trainer Jockey
Apollitical Boogie Turf Paradise / May 1 Amado De La Riva Eloy Mendoza Rodolfo Arvizu
ALSO ELIGIBLE -Tres N Candy
Maxx Sam Houston / May 16 Irma Vargas Rolondo Almanza Manuel Gutierrez
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Teardrops At The Bar
Rpainted Pistol Ajax Downs / July 10 Milena Kwiecien Jason Pascoe Ramero Castillo
ALSO ELIGIBLE-Definitely Carter
Born To B Bad Ruidoso Downs / July 30 Melissa Slayton / Cody Bowling Tammy Johnson Adrian A Ramos
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Feature Moonflash
One Sweet Merlot Retama Park / August 13 David Jones & Mark C Cowan Judd Kearl Noe Villatoro
ALSO ELIGIBLE -Shez Freaky
Agent Provocateur Hipodromo / August 14 Luis Miguel Albores Gleason Rafael Alejandro Moises Gonzalez
ALSO ELIGIBLE - Beer Wagon
Kissed By An Eagle Los Alamitos / August 20 Mark and/or Peggy Brown Rafael Orozco Cesar Dealba
ALSO ELIGIBLE -One Proud Eagle
Cowboy 109 Evergreen Park / August 21 Perlich / Hinkle / McCutcheon Buckey Stockwell Jose Rocha
ALSO ELIGIBLE - North Pine Special
Faster Than Hasta Prairie Meadows / September 17 John G Johnson Robert D Johnson Cody Rodger Smith
ALSO ELIGIBLE - CR Game Changer
First Rate Return Will Rogers / October 9 Tery Mclean Gerry McLean James Flores
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