AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 1, 2023 - The first major stakes race for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ajax Downs this season headlines a seven-race card on Wednesday, August 2. The $58,095 final of the Ontario Bred Futurity has a field of 10 youngsters who will race 300-yards in the seventh race of the afternoon.
The field is made up of 10 juveniles who competed in two Trials for the Futurity on July 12. The Trial winners were SUGAR N PRIDE, who earned the fastest Trial time in the first race of his career for owner George Coleman and the filly PRETTY MAGICALL, owned by Milena Kwiecien.
Coleman, who has raced a small stable of one or two horses for about 10 years, picked out Sugar N Pride last fall on a trip to the farm of Heste Sport's Rene and Darlene Hunderup of King, ON.
"They showed us five yearlings," said Coleman, who was accompanied by trainer Bob Broadstock. "Bob asked me which one I liked and I picked [Sugar N Pride]."
A son of Ontario stallion Sugarman Perry from the good producing mare Lady Pagrana, Sugar N Pride learned his early lessons with jockey Rachael Isaacs, who rode him in his career debut.
The chestnut gelding broke fast and straight from the gate in his Trial and overhauled his stablemate, favoured GENERAL SKYWALKER, to win by a neck with a 72 speed index. General Skywalker, owned by Marie Broadstock, was coming off a win in the Stallion Auction Futurity in his second career start.
Sugar N Pride and Isaacs will start from post position 6 in the final and General Skywalker, who will be ridden by Ramiro Castillo, has drawn post 8.
Pretty Magicall, coincidentally also purchased from Heste Sport, is trained by Jason Pascoe and will be ridden by JB Botello. The bay filly had finished third to General Skywalker in the Auction Futurity before winning her Trial by a length with a speed index of 70. Pretty Magicall starts from post position 2.
First race post time for the August 2 card at Ajax Downs is 1:30 p.m.
You can see race-day selections and download a pocket program at ajaxdowns.com. Admission and parking are always free at Ajax Downs. You can also watch and wager on the races at HPIbet.com.
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