PRESS RELEASE
Head banging, metal music lover Pretty Runaway Rocks Ontario Sires Maturity
AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 – PRETTY RUNAWAY, a Quarter Horse mare who went viral this spring for her head-banging moves to heavy metal music, posted an upset win in the $39,330 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity at Ajax Downs on September 1.
Ridden by Tony ‘TP’ Phillips, Pretty Runaway, at 5 to 1 odds, broke well from post position three at the start of the 330-yard dash and was quickly in an early battle into a strong headwind with A Shades of Cold. The 7-year-old mare got her head in front 50 yards from the finish and held off a charging First Cold Wave to win by a nose in 17.187 for an 88 speed index.
Owned and trained by James Bogar of Cameron, ON, Pretty Runaway won for the ninth time in 30 career races. Her earnings now stand at over $138,000. She was bred by Heste Sport Inc. in King City.
Pretty Runaway not only likes to groove to metal music but she likes to put on a show before her races. “When you see her like she was today, prancing and on her toes, you know she’s on her game,” said Phillips. “We had a great trip, she gave me everything.”
‘Pretty’ first appeared on local news programs in February when groom Autumn Purdy filmed her nodding to metal music. A TikTok video went viral and CNN’s Jeanne Moos interviewed Purdy and her favourite mare and then singer/talk show host Kelly Clarkson (links to those interviews are below) featured the pair.
Bogar won two races on the Sept. 1 card and has a short lead in the trainer’s race with 17 victories over Jason Pascoe’s 16 wins.
Pascoe had a winner on the day when 2023 Horse of the Year SNOW MOOSE. owned by Milena Kwiecien, flew to victory in an allowance race, his eighth career win in 18 races. The Ontario bred is getting ready for the Alex Picov Championship on Oct. 9.
The next racing day at Ajax Downs is Wednesday, September 11, 2024 featuring the Norman Picov Derby and Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity. Coming up on Monday, October 14 is Race Day for the United Way plus a pumpkin giveaway to the first 100 kids. Visit www.ajaxdowns.com and the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at www.qrooi.com for more information on how to own a Quarter Horse and much more.