COUNTRYS COMIN BAC, owned and trained by Ralph Pearson and ridden by Ramiro Castillo, won the first trial for the Picov Maturity on May 20 – NEW IMAGE MEDIA PHOTO
THE BOY IS BACK
Country Boy 123 wins 2018 debut setting up intriguing Picov Maturity final
COUNTRY BOY 123 and jockey Cory Spataro stretch it out to grab the win in the 2nd trial for the Picov Maturity – NEW IMAGE MEDIA PHOTO
Two sons of the American stallion Country Chicks Man won both trials for the upcoming $50,000–added Picov Maturity on June 3.
Two-time Ajax Downs HORSE OF THE YEAR, 5-year-old COUNTRY BOY 123 won his season debut in the 2nd trial, rallying in time at 300 yards to nab 2015 Horse of the Year Fiesty Icon in a fast time of :15.34 for a 103 Speed Index.
Country Boy 123 was making his first start since he was second in the Indiana Championship at Indiana Downs Oct. 21. The big dark bay won five of seven races in 2017 including the Picov Maturity, All Canadian Classic and Alex Picov Memorial Championship.
It took a few strides for the champ to get rolling and Rick kennedy’s hard knocking Fiesty Icon, who made a stellar apperance in post parade, was in front out of the gates.
“I know he was going to be game,” said jockey Cory Spataro. “We hooked up with Fiesty Icon and he was just waiting for my signal to continue on. When I asked him he was there.”
Country Boy 123, now a winner of 12 races in 20 starts, is owned by Ruth Barbour of Hillsburgh, Ontario.
The first trial for the Maturity went to the speedy Countrys Comin Bac owned by Whitby’s Ralph Pearson. The 5-year-old gelding won a four-horse frantic finish by a head in :15.600 for a 93 speed index. Ridden by 2017 leading jockey Ramiro Castillo, Countrys Comin Bac edged multiple stakes winner Alakazaam, owned by Cummings Cattle Co. and Full Circle Racing.
Pearson, who has sent out Countrys Comin Back to seven wins in 19 races and almost 4100,000 in earnings is looking forward to the Maturity final.
“Well I tell you, there’s a lot of good horses. I ran second to the Country Boy 123 [with Countrys Comin Basc) in the 3-year-old Derby. We’re going to try our best but I have myself a nice jockey.”
The list of the 10 qualifiers to the final is below.
PICOV MATURITY June 03, 2018
Track: AJAX DOWNS
Trials: MAY 20, 2018
Final: JUNE 03, 2018
Purse: $50,000-ADDED
Age: 4-YEAR-OLDS & UP
Distance: 300 YARDS
PICOV MATURITY JUNE 03, 2018
Horse Sex Sire-Dam, Dam Sire Time Owner Breeder Trainer Jockey
Country Boy 123, 5 g. Country Chicks Man – Very Dashin 123 by Dash Thru Traffic :15.340 Ruth F. Barbour Carolyn C Bay (MI) Bryn Robertson Cory Spataro
Fiesty Icon, 6 g. Sugarman Perry – Fiesty Spirit by Special Effort :15.410 Richard W. Kennedy Picov Cattle Co (ONT) Owner Chelsey Wil
Countrys Comin Bac, 5 g. Country Chicks Man – Bac To Center by Splash Bac :15.600 Ralph Pearson Marko Naterer (ONT) Owner Ramiro S Castillo
Alakazaam, 5 g. Mezoomn – Corona Deluxe by Corona Cartel :15.630 Full Circle Racing and Cummings Cattle Co. Lucas Racing Inc (MD) Greg Watson Chelsey Willick
One Famous Glass, 8 g. One Famous Eagle – Quick Glass by Royal Quick Dash :15.650 Carol Robertson, Jaime Robertson and Dr. Charles Hall Burnett Ranches LLC (TX) Bryn Robertson Tony Phillips
Ms First Prize Pearl, 5 m. Ivory James – First Prize Pearl by Mr Jess Perry :15.690 Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre Weetona Stanley (OK) Don Reid Brian Bell
Hickerson, 4 g. Country Chicks Man – Easily Holland by Holland Ease :15.750 Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre Guylaine Paquin (ONT) Don Reid Brian Bell
Iconic Shift, 4 g. Texas Icon – Shiftin by Gol :15.790 Full Circle Racing Full Circle Racing (MD) Greg Watson Ramiro S Castillo
Albertt, 5 g. Mr Jess Tex – Squincheyes by Mr Eye Opener :15.900 Scott Reid Scott Reid (ONT) Owner Cassandra Jeschke
Ls Prince, 4 g. Louisiana Senator – Princess Sixarun by Sixarun :16.000 Milena Kwiecien Paris Wixon (TX) Jason Pascoe Ed Walton
Trial Notes: Country Boy 123 defeated Fiesty Icon by a neck in the second of two trials to set the fastest qualifying time.
BIG MAN B with Cassandra Jeschke riding (6) edges Chelsey Willick on Hezafireman and SR Solid Rubi with Ramiro Castillo in race 7 on May 20 – LAURIE OVERTON PHOTO
Ajax Downs’ third day of the 2018 season was a big one for Cobourg’s Cassandra Jeschke, who rode three winners on the eight-race card, all for trainer Scott Reid of Bowmanville.
The pair won race 1 with LUMMIS FIRST, owned by John Wilson. The grey 4-year-old by First Down Dash was making his season debut in the speed index race and was meeting 5 rivals, all which were maidens. Lummis First broke sharply and won handily in :13.540 for 250 yards, good for an 88 speed index.
Reid’s own homebred ELENORR won race 6, the QROOI Overnight Series event worth 423,000, her 3rd win in five career races. The grey daughter of Mr Jess Tex – Squicheyes by Mr Eye Opener won the 300 yard race in :15;880 for a career best 84 speed index.
And Reid and Jeschke were at it again in the next race, a $14,400 maiden dash at 250 yards, winning with BIG MAN B (also known as Captain Dave). The brown 4-year-old by Freighttrain B was a purchase from the US and finished 4th in his local debut on May 6. In this race he rallied in time to catch 35 to 1 shot Hezthefireman in a time of 13.820 for the 250 yards, a 77 speed index.
Ramiro Castillo, won his first race of the meeting with Ms Dashin Corona the race before Countrys Comin Back won his Maturity trial. Ms Dashin Corona, the High POint Aged Mare if 2017, picked up right where she left off in 2017 with this win.
The pretty bay owned by Marie Broadstock, was the first winner of the season for trainer Bob Broadstock. The 7-year-old by Coronas leaving You won her last three races of 2017 and four overall.
Her career totals are now eights win 37 races and 12 2nds and 3rds.
She won this speed index race at 220 yards in :12.150 for a 90 speed index.
Great image by LAURIE OVERTON after the sire of race 2 – the winner was Ms Dashin Corona (far right)
The biggest priced winner of the day was SW HAIL TO THE KING, a newcomer to the local scene for owners Bryanne Sheppard and Amelie Aubut. This 3-year-old gelding by Second painted Sign was a close 3rd in his most recent race at Remington Park on April 8 and he upset the First Line Syndicate’s Eye Am the Eagle to win by a nose at 10 to 1. Trained by Jason Pascoe and ridden by Ed Walton, SW Hail to the King raced the 250 yards in 13.630 for an 85 speed index.
And the final race of the day, the 8th event, was an allowance race for Ontario sired 3-year-olds and up and favoured LATER TATER became the second winner from as many starters for owner Gary McNichol and trainer Michelle Woodley. ‘Tater’, ridden by Cory Spataro, had not been seen since he was edged by a nose by stablemate Ghost Pines in the Ontario Sires Derby last July but he was well prepared for his comeback. The grey homebred is by Wild Boyz.
Another robust crowd was on hand in perfect weather for the third day of racing this season at Ajax Downs and wagering was brisk.
Coming up this Sunday, May 27, is Fan Appreciation Day with pop-up vouchers, giveaways and contests for all fans in attendance.
The featured events on the track will be trials for new Bonus Challenge Maiden at 300 yards. The final for that event will be on June 10.
Post time May 27 is 12:55.
AJAX DOWNS DAILY RACE REPORTS FROM AGCO
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario stewards are now posting the Daily Race Reports on the Ajax Downs website..check out the link:
