(Photos by Laurie Overton; Mrs. First Lady Photo by New Image Media)
Forty-eight hours after smashing a seven-year-old track record at Ajax Downs, Ontario horse racing’s latest equine star Country Boy 123 was happily munching on grass in his paddock in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
The giant bay Quarter Horse gelding, owned by Ruth Barbour (seen at right), cruised to an easy victory on the June 18 final of the $59,200 Picov Maturity to remain unbeaten in two starts this season. A winner of five straight at Ajax, the 2016 Horse of the Year posted a career high 112 speed index rating for his 1 ¼ length win in the :15.10 for 300 yards. That bettered the previous mark of :15.24 set by 2010 Horse of the Year One Kool Wave.
“He came back so happy,” said Barbour, who bought the sensational gelding for $7,200 as a yearling three years ago in Oklahoma. “It doesn’t seem to take much out of him.”
The Maturity was ‘CB’’s eighth career win in 13 races and his earnings are now over $130,000.
Up next for Country Boy 123 will be the Trials for the Bank of America Challenge on August. 6.
A Michigan-bred son of top US sire Country Chicks Man, Country Boy 123 is well known for his docile temperament away from the track and his playful nature, especially in the paddock with his buddy, the 3-year-old Quarter Horse Furr Shear.
“He’s a really ham and a sweet horse,” said Barbour. “It’s so amazing that here is my riding horse who becomes this racing monster for a short period and gives us these great thrills. How lucky am I?”
Regular rider Cory Spataro knows all about the keen racing side of ‘CB” and has developed a strong relationship with the horse on race day.
“He was a lot sharper this time around and full of himself as he always is,” said Spataro. “When I saw that we got the one post for the Maturity, I almost knew we couldn’t get beat until I saw the rain. I wasn’t’ sure how he would handle the slop but I had thought to myself that it should dry out enough by the time the ninth race arrived. “
Just as he did in his Maturity Trial race on June 4, Country Boy 123 broke like a bullet and quickly scampered clear of his rivals even with a slightly deeper inside path under his feet.
“I’ve never really known too many big, powerful horses such as he to take to that type of surface, it mostly complements a nimble type,” said Spataro.
(Photo below - Country Boy 123 has been unchallenged in 2017)
Country Boy 123 and Furr Shear are the only two Quarter Horses owned by Barbour, who also owns a few Thoroughbreds with her sister Gail Wood. Barbour has a veterinary practice in Hillsburgh and lives on her farm with husband Doug Jackson.
While Barbour has ‘CB” on her farm and rides him every day through the trails of forest around her property, the gelding is training by Bryn Robertson, who also had a big day at Ajax on June 18.
Robertson sent out both winners of the John Deere Ajax Downs Regional Challenge Trials for 2-year-olds.
The John Deere Trials, worth $9,600 each were the first 2-year-old races of the season at Ajax and Robertson sent out a first time starter in each dash and both drew the rail post.
Had to be Ivory, a large gelding owned and bred by Bryn’s wife Carol and daughter-in-law Jaime, flew to victory in the first Trial over a main track that was listed as sloppy from early morning rains. Bred by the owners, the son of Ivory James - Had to be Fandango by Hadtobenuts won the 250 yard dash in :18,14 for an 85 speed index with Tony Phillips riding.
"I've been feeding him carrots since he was a baby," said Phillips, who has worked with the youngster from his early training.
A race later, the Robertson team were in the winner's rciela agin when Express Your Desire won the second John Deere Trial in :18.11 under Neil Husbands. Express Your Desire is also a homebred and a won of Desirio from Midnight Express by PYC Paint Your Wagon.
(Photo below - Ajax Downs had a huge crowd for June 18, Father's Day)
"We did a lot of work of work with the babies and you just hope that they have a clean trip," said Carol Robertson. "We have just had a streak of really good luck."
Father's Day at Ajax Downs had the grandstand and patio area at the track packed with fans and wagering was up 16% over the same day a year ago.
The afternoon's suporting feature was the $29,667 AQHA Challenge Maiden Final won by the Mrs. First Lady for DK Trainiing Centre and Richard Wincikaby and traine dby Don Reid. Mrs. First Lady, ridden by Brian Bell, was winning for the first time in her career in her second Ajax outing and the Utah-bred by Mr. Jess Perry sizzled 330 yards in :16.85 for a 97 speed index. The Trial winners for the Challenge Maiden, Maryland Magic, owned by Milena Kwicien, and Jessica Boxell's One Dashin Rose finsihed second and third respectively.
(Photo below - Mrs. First Lady won her first ever race in the final for the AQHA Challenge Maiden)
Also on the impressive 10-race card Father's Day card was the popular Gridirin Gallop, a 110-yard dash, which was won by the amazing 6-year-old Arctic Fame.
Now three-for-three in 2017, the Ontario bred picked up the bulk of the $27,000 purse for his thrilling win in the rapid time of :6.87, good for a career best 106 speed index. Arctic Fame is owned by George Coleman and trained by Scott Reid, Cassandra Jeschke rode.
After seven racings cards (one was partially cancelled) at Ajax this year the standings are as follows:
AJAX DOWNS LEADING JOCKEYS BY WINS
Brian Bell 36 10 6 2 $76,633
Cory Spataro 34 8 3 5 $70,534
Cassandra Jeschke 23 8 3 4 $53,383
Chelsey Willick 37 7 8 3 $56,946
Ramiro Castillo 33 6 4 8 $42,521
LEADING TRAINERS BY WINS
Joe Tavares 46 8 11 6 $71,501
Scott Reid 15 7 2 3 $43,182
Don Reid 20 6 4 0 $50,255
Bryn Robertson 10 6 1 2 $40,401
Jason Pascoe 26 4 3 7 $31,295
Bob Broadstock 15 4 3 3 $28,304
LEADING OWNERS BY PURSES
Christine Tavares 28 4 8 4 $40,248
Wincikaby, Richard ,DK Training Centre 16 4 3 0 $37,150
Picov Cattle Co.22 5 3 2 $36,185
Heste Sport, Inc. 39 1 3 5 $30,955
Rick Crispi 23 2 2 4 $22,080
- See more at:
http://www.equibase.com/stats/View.cfm?tf=meet&tb=jockey&rbt=QH#sthash.JKC6UKIp.dpuf
More Top Racing Headlines