Fillies swept all three Trial races for the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity, the first major events for juveniles at the 2017 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse meeting.
Putting an exclamation point on the sweep was the fact that the track’s two women jockeys, Chelsey Willick and Cassandra Jeschke, accounted for all three Trial wins on the July 23 afternoon. Willick rode two winners, Junoimzoomin, narrowly the fastest qualifier, and Hanover Hill Sugar, and both fillies are trained by Joe Tavares.
(Photo at right - Junoinzoomin, all photos by New Image Media)
Jeschke piloted Scott Reid’s homebred Elenorr to victory in the afternoon’s first $9,000 Trial. All but one of the 20 entrants in the Trial races were making the first starts of their career.
The 13
th day of the meeting also had the largest crowd of the meeting for the annual Craft Brewery day which showcased many of the region’s top breweries. Wagering on the seven-race card increased about 15% from the same day in 2016.
Junoimzoomin, owned and bred by Christine Tavares, was visually impressive in her 1 ¼ length victory in :17.440 for 330 yards, putting up a 78 speed index. The sorrel filly is by the successful Tavares stallion Junos back and is the first foal of the family’s good racemare Jessshazzom by Shazoom. Jessshazoom won 10 of 49 races and over $141, 000 in her racing career.
Junoimzoomin was always in front in her Trial and outfinished Smoakn Gun, a chunky gelding owned by Stephanie Keeble.
Hanover Hill Sugar, one of six juveniles in the three Trials for Norman Picov, owner of Hanover Hill Farm in Port Perry, was a surprise winner at 13 to 1 of the third Trial. The dark bay is the first winner for her freshman sire Make Out Artist (by Make It Anywhere) and edged Royal Hatrick, owned by James Bogar, by a head in :17.510 for a 76 speed index.
(Photo below - Hanover Hill Sugar - #4)
Elenorr, a grey full sister to Scott Reid’s multiple winner Albertt, was bet down as the 9 to 5 favourite won the first OSS Futurity Trial under a smooth ride by Jeschke by three-quarters of a lengtht over Baytonia Stables’ Jess Tuff. Elenorr, by Mr Jess Tex – Squincheyes by Mr Eye Opener, sped the distance in :17.570, a 74 speed index.
(Photo below - ELENORR)
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The OSS Futurity final, worth $55,000, will be contested on Aug. 13.
Other winners on July 23 were:
Mr. Polar Express won his maiden in race 1 in his ninth career race. Owned, bred and trained by Amanda McCormack, Mr. Polar Express is a 4-year-old by Iced N Oak – London Express by Brimmerton and he was ridden to victory by Tony Phillips. Mr. Polar Express raced 300 yards in :15.840 for a lifetime best 87 speed index.
Rick Crispi’s
Rich and On Fire won race 2, a speed index dash at 250 yards for his first win of the 2017 campaign. The Texas bred by Walk Thru Fire was ridden by Ed Walton and is trained by Tom Dunlap.
Gogo Jangles won race 6 for his second straight win of the season. The black 3-year-old gelding is a Texas-bred by Feature Mr Bojangles and he is owned by Walter Harrison. Greg Watson trains and Julian Serrano rode the winner in this $16,000 allowance race. The time for 250 yards was :13.430 or a 92 speed index.
The final race of the afternoon was won by Erik and Joyce Lehtinen’s fast improving
The Flash Drive, the second winner of the day for Tony Phillips. The homebred 3-year-old gelding by Carters Cartel has two wins in four starts this year and his time of :16.940 was good for a career best 93 speed index.
Racing continues at Ajax this coming Sunday, July 30 with the Adequan Ajax Downs Regional Derby Trials for 3-year-olds.
Below are the 10 qualifiers for the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity:
2017 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity Trials - July 23 Ajax Downs
Final - August 13
Horse Race # Post Time Finish Trainer Jockey Owner
1 Junoimzoomin 4 2 17.44 1 Tavares Willick Tavares
2 Hanover Hill Sugar 5 4 17.51 1 Tavares Willick Picov Cattle
3 Royal Hatrick 5 5 17.53 2 Wood Phillips Bogar
4 Elenorr 3 3 17.57 1 Reid, S Jeschke Reid
5 Too Much White 5 3 17.57 3 Pascoe Castillo McNichol
6 Smoakn Gun 4 6 17.67 2 Watson Serrano Keeble
7 Jess Tuff 3 7 17.72 2 Peltier Bell Baytonia
8 Lacey B 4 4 17.75 3 Peltier Bell Baytonia
9 Hellfires Mistress 5 6 17.81 4 McIntyre Spataro Big Dog
10 Hanover Hill Prince 5 1 17.86 5 Tavares Scott Picov Cattle
From Thursday, July 20 - In what is believed to be a record at Ajax Downs, the track’s first Twilight card of racing on Thursday, July 20 featured a race which produced some whopping ‘show’ payoffs.
Race two, an allowance race for Ontario-sired horses, was won by the filly Make Me Bodacious, a 5 to 1 shot, who paid $12.70 to win and $6.50 for a place bet but $127. 30 for a $2 show bet.
Second place finisher Ice N Snow, a 3 to 1 shot, paid $4.10 for place and $47.60 to show while Ittakestwotootango paid $50,80 to show.
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