AJAX DOWNS - Millbrook, Ontario's
DAN GILES is like a proud poppa when he watches his jet-black Quarter Horse
Ice Witch (
John Watkins photo, from 2017) at the races.
Giles was simply beaming when Ice Witch won Ajax Downs' featured $27,000 Overnight Stake on July 29 by a head in a wild finish to the 350 yard dash. It was the second consecutive win for Ice Witch who won his maiden on July 1.
The gelding overcame a stutter-step start beginning and surged into the pace battle, pulling away late from Firing Red Jess, who had won his last two starts impressively for owner George Coleman.
Ice Witch stopped the clock in :17.890 which was good for a strong 92 Speed Index.
The winner is a 4-year-old son of former Ontario stallion Iced n Oak from Giles' mare The Witching Hour. The mare's 5-year-old daughter Bewitchin is also a winner for Giles this year.
Greg Watson trains Ice Witch for Giles.
Winning rider
Cory Spataro of Innisfil maintains the lead in a competitive battle for leading rider with 21 wins to Brian Bell and Ed Walton's 17 victories. Chelsey Willick, with two wins on July 29, has 15 victories.
The day's co-featured $27,000 QROOI Overnight Series race, a 300-yard maiden event, was won by Rick Crispi's Kazoomin who was guided to victory by Max Badal for trainer Tom Dunlap. Kazoomin edged the filly Far Side of the Moon in :15.790 for an 87 Speed Index.
Trainer Joe Tavares sent out three winners on the day to join Jason Pascoe on top of the trainer's list by wins with 16.
Women riders won the first four races on Sunday's nine-race card. Newcomer
Corrine Andros, also a Thoroughbred jockey and originally from B.C., won her first race at Ajax Downs in race 1 aboard Ralph Pearson's Miss Cookies.
A big crowd on-track helped boost wagering for the day, up a whopping
70 percent from the same day in 2017.
It is
SPORTS DAY at Ajax Downs on Aug. 5 with giveaways of tickets to Toronto sporting events. The Trials for the Ontario Sires Futurity will be the on-track feature.
For more information please visit
www.ajaxdowns.com.
Ajax Downs Communications
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