AJAX DOWNS, JULY 17, 2024 - In a surprising upset, SNOW MOOSE, the 2023 Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs, defeated two-time Horse of the Year HAD TO BE IVORY in the 13th edition of the Ontario Bred Maturity on July 17. Ridden by JB Botello, Snow Moose broke sharply from post position one in the 400 yard event worth $39,960 and led throughout, holding off a charging Had to Be Ivory by a length at odds of 5 to 1.
Snow Moose sped the 400 yards at 19.806 for a 102 speed index.
Owned and bred by Burlington's Milena Kwiecien, Snow Moose is trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool. ON. It was only the second start of 2024 for Snow Moose, who began the season at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 3 with a fifth-place finish in the Bradford Stakes. The grey son of Seperate Interest was meeting older horses for the first time including Had to Be ivory, who had won 11 straight races at Ajax Downs.
"I thought the horse was feeling very nice today," said Botello. "He stood very well in the gate, and he's a good horse. I'm just so happy to win this race."
This was the first time Snow Moose, who won five of nine starts as a 3-year-old in 2023, had met older horses. Had to Be Ivory, a 27-time winner and two for two in 2024, finishing second for Carol and Jaime Robertson with Hanover Hill Thersa finishing third.
Snow Moose has won seven of 16 races and over $133,000.
*Two Trials for the $55,000-added Ontario Bred Futurity were also held on Wednesday and Had to Ivory's 2-year-old half sister HAD TO BE FABULOUS remained unbeaten with a handy half-length victory in a time of 15.820 for an 83 speed index. Trained by Bryn Rpberston, Had to be Fabulous is three for three in her career.
The same team won the second Ontario Bred Futurity with ELIVIS THE FAMOUS, purchased privately by the Robertsons from breeder Ameli Aubut. A grey son of Cold Hard Dash, Elvis the Famous, at 5 to 1, won by half a length over favoured Fate Zoomin in a time of 16.041 for a 76 speed index. Josh Scott rode both Robertson 2-year-olds to victory,
The fastest 10 times from the two Trials for the Ontario Bred Futurity will advance to the July 31 final.
FEATURED PHOTO: Snow Moose, the 2023 Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs, streaks to victory in the $39,960 Ontario Bred Maturity on July 17, defeating Had to be Ivory (New Image Media Photo)
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