Father’s Day at Ajax Downs is the first big, trackside party of the Quarter Horse racing season and fittingly, the big boys will headline a jam-packed 10-race afternoon in the $58,000 final of the Picov Maturity for the top older horses in Ontario.
Plenty of prizes and giveaways are up for grabs attending the race card and first race post is at 12:55 p.m.
The 5
th running of the Picov Maturity, contested at 300 yards, brings together the ten fastest qualifiers from the trials held two weeks ago on June 4. Trial winners Country Boy 123, the 2016 Horse of the Year in Ontario, and One Famous Glass, the 2014 Horse of the Year, both flirted with track records in their victories.
(Photo at right - One Famous Glass 'Eagle' wins a Trial for the Picov Maturity, today's big race at Ajax Downs - New Image Media Photo)
Both horses are trained by Bryn Robertson, whose family owns One Famous Glass. The hard-knocking 7-year-old has won 15 of his 32 career races and was extra tough in his Trial win when he edged a fast closing Fast Man Vic from Full Circle Racing. His time of :15.40 for the 300 yards was good for a 102 speed index.
Fast Man Vic, ridden by Ajax newcomer Julian Serrano, defeated One Famous Glass last year in the Bank of America Challenge Championship.
Country Boy 123 has won seven of his last eight races at Ajax Downs for owner Ruth Barbour. The massive 4-year-old gelding has a spectacular return to the races when he won his Trial but a widening two lengths under Cory Spataro, posting a 106 speed index.
The showdown should be epic and the race is carded as the ninth dash of the day.
The Maturity will be supported by the $29,667 final of the AQHA Challenge Maiden Stakes led by Trial winners One Dashim Rose, owned by Jessica Boxell and trained by Scott Reid and Maryland Magic, owned by Milena Kwiecien ansd trained by Jason Pascoe.
There are also trial races for the important John Deere Ajax Downs Juvenile Challenge for 2-year-olds. The winner of the John Deere final (to be held on July 9) earns a trip to the $150,000 American final at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.
These are the first juvenile races of the season. Heading the first Trial, at 350 yards, is Indiana invader Diane Dynamite, who was third in her career debut on May 10 for trainer Tony Cunningham.
Trainer Jason Pascoe has three of the six entrants in the second Trial including the experienced Silky Senator, owned by Amelia Aubut.
More Top Racing Headlines