For the thousands of people in Ontario who work in horse racing, there are few more precious moments than developing a young racehorse into a winner.
For the team who work with trainer Joe Tavares and his owner/wife Christine, they had one of those moments on June 25 at Ajax Downs.
Yournotthebossofme, a Tavares homebred 3-year-old by Junos Back, made an impressive first career start at the right time; in a $22,000 QROOI Overnight series race, this one for non-winners in their career.
(Photo at right is of ARCTIC FAME, now four for four in 2017 - New Image Media Photo)
Ridden by Chesley Willick, who is from Fort Erie, ON, Yournotthebossofme quickly grabbed hold of a drying out dirt track and passed four horses in a matter of seconds to win by 1 ½ lengths. His time of :13.500 for 250 yards was good for an whopping 86 speed index.
“This win is a testament to the Tavares family and the whole team who work their tails off every day,” said Willick, who has formed a powerful partnership with that stable. “We took our time and did a lot of work with this horse and it paid off.”
(Photo below - YOURNOTTHEBOSSOFME streaks to victory in his career race in fast time - New Image Media photo)
The team had good expectations for the attractive sorrel gelding since he is a son of the champion Ajax mare Go Smashing Baby, a winner of 27 races in 39 starts.
“Yes, we knew he was supposed to be good, and he’s a good feeling horse,” said Willick. “He was just one of those special kids who needed some time.”
It was a big day for Joe and Christine, who reside in Eniskillen, On, as they sent out two other winners on the afternoon including one of the longest priced winners at the track in recent years.
Frey Kool, a sorrel 3-year-old filly who had two unfair starts to begin her 2017 season, swept to victory in race three, a speed index event, at 45 to 1, for her first career win. Lloyd DeSouza rode the Indiana-bred to victory.
The couple’s other winner was Hello Stoli who won a $14,400 maiden allowance, race five, under jockey Tony Phillips. Hello Stoli, a newcomer to the Ontario circuit, was making his second start at Ajax after being purchased from Louisiana.
Ajax Downs hosted a two-day Caribbean Festival on June 24 and 25. The Caribana- themed event, which featured food and music and plenty of lavish costumes was a huge hit even with a couple of quick rain showers during the day.
Many of the first-time visitors to the track were keen on learning about Quarter Horse racing and kept the Handicapping 101 booth busy.
The remarkable Arctic Fame is now four for four in 2017 after he won race two, a starter allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at 250 yards. The 6-year-old Ontario bred by Dash to the Arctic, was coming back in seven days from winning the Gridiron Gallop for owner George Coleman and trainer Scott Reid but won with ease in :13.36 for a 94 speed index.Cassandra Jeschke is the regular rider for Arctic Fame who has 10 wins in 33 career starts.
Other winners on the day were Passum Lane, providing owner Mary Schrama and trainer Dan Giles with their first winner of the season. The stocky chestnut gelding was ridden to victory by Josh Scott and Schrama bred the 6-year-old son of Sycamore Lane.
Eric and Joyce Lehtinen celebrated two wins on the day. The first came with The Flash Drive in race four, a $13,000 allowance race for Ontario bred 3-year-olds and up. The betting public was enamored with this 3-year-old son of Carters Cartel, betting him down to 5 to 2 second favourite in his third race of the season. Under Tony Phillips, the bay gelding skipped away to a handy win in :17.99 for 350 yards, a career high 89 speed index.
The Lehtinens also won with Grabin Courage, a homebred son of Captain Courage making his second start of the year. The gelding was ridden to victory by Carly Furlonger.
Race six was won by Im Speedy, the first winner of the season for owner/trainer Les Baker. Baker bred this sorrel 4-year-old who was reunited with jockey Cory Spataro for this $17,600 allowance race at 350 yards. Spataro, who rode the son of All About Speed to victory in 2016 in late June, was back in the winner’s circle aboard his friend after edging Kona Corona by a head in a time of :17.840 for 350 yards.
Racing will be held this weekend on
Saturday, July 1 with a large celebration trackside and a concert by the popular Canadian band Sloan.
The on-track features will be the 6
th running of the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby and trials for the Ontario Sires Maturity. Post time on July 1 is 12:30 p.m.
More Top Racing Headlines