Hanover Hill Chalsee, who began the 2020 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse season as a maiden after three starts last year, won her third consecutive race September 2, surging late to win the $56,300 Ontario Bred Derby.
Owned and bred by Norm Picov's Picov Cattle Company of Ajax, ON and trained by Rick Kennedy of Mt. Albert, Hanover Hill Chalsee wore down One Kool Dynasty to win by a head under leading rider Ed Walton.
Both Hanover Hill Chalsee and One Kool Dynasty, owned by Belinda Taggart of Oakwood won Trials for the Ontario Bred Derby two weeks ago and installed One Kool Dynasty as the slight 8 to 5 favourite over Hanover HIll Chalsee who was 2 to 1. Both fillies broke well in the 300-yard dash with One Kool Dynasty grabbing the lead quickly under jockey Helen Vanek.
Hanover HIll Chalsee got into gear halfway through the race and was up in time to win while One Kool Dynasty held second over last year's Champion 2-Year-Old Male Eazy Street. The time was 15.707 for an 85 speed index into a strong headwind.
A daughter of Ontario stallion Make Out Artist from the mare Secret Sugarwoman by Sugarman Perry, Hanover Hill Chalsee has improved rapidly under Kennedy's training. The 3-year-old filly won her first start of 2020 as an 18 to 1 longshot, placed in two minor races before winning an allowance race Aug. 12 and her Derby Trial a week later.
"She made a believer out of me today," said Walton, who bagged three wins on the nine-race card Wednesday. "She's a filly who has improved with every start. I am so happy for Norm [Picov] and Rick who puts so much time into horses, I'm glad to see them get a stakes win."
The $22,520 winner's share of the purse boosted Hanover Hill Chalsee's earnings to $50,083 from four wins in nine races.
*Earlier on the Sept. 2 card multiple champion COUNTRY BOY 123 rolled to a one-length win in the $21,550 QROOI Distance Series, leg 2 at 400 yards for his fourth straight win this season. Ridden by Ed Walton, Ruth Barbour's amazing 7-year-old was coming off a win in the second leg of the Sprint Series and now has 26 victories at seven different distances from 40 races.
His career earnings now stand at $488,902 as the richest Canadian-based Quarter Horse in history. His main goal of the Ajax Downs season is the Oct. 12 Alex Picov Memorial Championship, a race he has won the last three years.
*Ajax Downs switches to Monday racing on Labour Day, Sept. 7 for the remainder of its season with a first race post time of 12:55 p.m. You can keep up to date on news and watch races live at
www.ajaxdowns.com and wager and watch the races by opening an account at Horseplayer Interactive,
www.hpibet.com.
*
Photo by Katina Milns
More Top Racing Headlines