Picov Derby Trials Lure Ontario’s Best Three-Year-Old Quarter Horses September 1

PRESS RELEASE
Top 3-Year-Olds Battle in Picov Derby Trials at Ajax Downs – By Jennifer Morrison
 
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STREAKINLILWAGON returns to Ajax Downs on Sept. 1 following a big win in the $83,000 Canterbury Derby. Canterbury Downs photo
 
 
AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 30, 2021 – Ontario’s best 3-year-old Quarter Horses square off in two Trials for the $50,000 PICOV DERBY this Wednesday, September 1 at Ajax Downs. The Trials mark the return to Ontario of STREAKINLILWAGON to her home track following a smashing victory in the $83,000 Canterbury Derby on Aug. 11 at Canterbury Downs in Minnesota where she earned a career-best 103 speed index. Last year’s Champion 2-year-old filly at Ajax Downs was beaten a neck in the Princess Derby here on July 14 before heading to Minnesota where she won a Trial and then the Derby at Canterbury.
 
Streakinlilwagon, who has won seven of 12 races, is owned by Jason Pascoe and Brynne Langford’s GFR Equine Services and trained by Pascoe. Ismael Mosquiera will ride the Oklahoma-bred for the initial time in the first, 400-yard Trial on Wednesday which is race three on a big nine-race card.
 
Her competition in the first Trial includes Ontario bred Derby winner COUNTRYFRIED CHICKEN , also trained by Pascoe, who is a fleet bay gelding owned and bred by Milena Kwiecien. Helen Vanek will ride. Richard Wincikaby’s talented gelding TWIXT OF FATE, a charging second by a head in the Ontario Bred Derby and stakes placed HAD TO BE RELENTLESS are other contenders in the eight-horse field.
The second Trial, race four, is headed by Princess Derby winner JESSAPRIMADONNA, owned by Craig Spada and Isaak Fehr and trained by Spada. The sorrel filly has regular rider Cory Spataro aboard. Also in the field is the big Ontario-bred gelding PERRIER SPECIAL, an impressive winner for owners and breeders Erik and Joyce Lehtinen on Aug. 11. Tony Phillips will ride.
 
The 10 fastest qualifiers from the two Trials will advance to the final on Sept. 22. Post time for the first race on Wednesday is 1:30 p.m. You can watch a live stream of the races at www.ajaxdowns.com or on our YouTube page.
Reminder: Ajax Downs announced that racing will continue on Wednesdays through the end of the season, Nov. 3, rather than switch to a Monday schedule which was scheduled to begin Sept. 13. The first race post time will change to 12:55 on Wednesday, September 15.
 
Follow Ajax Downs on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@AjaxDowns) or visit our website at www.ajaxdowns.com for more updates.
 
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