Two-year-old filly
STRIPPER DUST stamped herself a star of the future as she beat the boys in Sunday's $26,500 Bonus Challenge Futurity, an American Quarter Horse Association sponsored race at
Ajax Downs.
Jockey Nakia Ramirez, who had ridden Stripper Dust to victory in a maiden race at Remington Park, OK on May 10, was back in Ontario to partner Milena Kwiecien's exciting filly for the final. Parlaying her third-place finisher in the faster of two trials on June 24, Stripper Dust broke well in the 300 yard dash and then got into gear quickly, speeding to the lead midway through and going on to win by three-quarters of a length.
Stablemate Spy for the Senate finished second under jockey Ed Walton and Bonnie Kirkwood-Peavoy's Gatlinburg landed third under Cory Spataro. The time of :15.560 was good for an impressive 95 speed index.
Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, ON trains Stripper Dust and Spy for the Senate. Morning line favourite Jess a Sweet Suprize was scratched.
"She broke better than she's ever broke before," said Ramirez. "She just went on with it and every stride she kept getting farther and farther [ahead]. It felt really amazing."
Stripper Dust is an Alabama-bred daughter of Louisiana Senator from the Grade 1 winning mare Miranda Fame, a daughter of Dash Ta Fame. Kwiecien, who has a farm in Burlington, purchased the filly for $12,500 (US) at the 2017 September Yearling Sale at Heritage Place in Oklahoma.
Pascoe saddled three winners on the July 15, nine-race card to go one win ahead of perennial leading trainer Joe Tavares, who won two on the card, with 14 victories.
Cory Spataro, with two wins on the day, has 19 victories after 11 racing days and leads an exciting jockey race over Brian Bell who has 16 wins and Walton who has 15 victories.
Ajax hosts one of its most popular race days on Sunday July 22 as Craft Beer Day offers samples from the best local breweries. The on-track feature, the All Canadian Classic, is headlined by two-time Horse of the Year Country Boy 123.
For more information, please visit
www.ajaxdowns.com
(Photo of Stripper Dust by New Image Media)
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