AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 – The best 3-year-old Quarter Horses in Ontario will square off this Wednesday, September 22 in the final for the $61,020 Picov Derby at Ajax Downs. The 400-yard event pits the 10 fastest sophomores from two Time Trials held on Sept. 1 including Trial winners STREAKINLILWAGON and PERRIER SPECIAL. The competitive Picov Derby is race 8 on a strong card of racing at the Ajax track.
Multiple stakes winner Streakinlilwagon, a bay filly bred in Oklahoma by GFR Equine Services of Jason Pascoe and Bryanne Langford of Pontypool, ON seeks her fourth straight win of 2021 and her ninth career victory. The top 2-year-old filly of 2020 won the $83,000 Canterbury Derby on Aug.11 and then returned to Ajax Downs to win her Picov Derby Trial with an 89 speed index. Ridden for the first time that day by Ismael Mosquiera, the daughter of Fast Prize Jordan, was just up to defeat Twixt of Fate who had a stumbling beginning. She starts from post position seven.
Ontario-bred Twixt of Fate, owned by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Michelle Woodley had been second in the Ontario Bred Derby in his previous race. He will be ridden for the first time by Brian Bell on Wednesday.
The towering gelding Perrier Special (post five) won the second Picov Derby Trial on Sept. 1 with a slightly faster 91 speed index. Owned and bred in Ontario by Erik and Joyce Lehtinen, Perrier Special led throughout his Trial and won by three-quarters of a length under Tony Phillips over a fast closing Jm Southern Express, also owned by Pascoe.
Princess Derby winner Jessaprimadonna is one of three entrants for trainer Craig Spada who is from Ridgeway. The Louisiana-bred filly finished third to Perrier Special in the second Trial. Carly Furlonger will ride.
Caroll and Jaime Robertson’s Had to Be Relentless, a half brother to 2018 Picov Derby winner Had to Be Ivory, will try to better his third-place finish behind Streakinlilwagon and Twixt of Fate and he starts from post two under Josh Scott.
The 2020 Picov Derby was won by EC Grey’s Anatomy for Anna Rosiak and Jason Pascoe.
First race post time on Wednesday is 12:55 p.m.
To pre-register to attend the day of racing, go to www.ajaxdowns.com and sign up beginning Sept. 20.
Follow Ajax Downs on social media @AjaxDowns for updates.
To learn more about getting into the Quarter Horse industry as an owner or part-owner, please contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at www.qrooi.com.
THE FIELD – $61,020 PICOV DERBY
POST TIME – 4:04 PM
Purse $61,020. For Three Year Olds, Which Nominated To, And Qualified From, The Time Trials Contested On Wed, Sept 1 (10 Fastest Qualifiers, Regardless Of Trial). Four Hundred Yards.
PP– Horse– Jockey –Trainer– M/L
1 Kk Blue Carte–H Vanek– C Spada –8/1
2 Had to Be Relentless — J Scott– B Robertson– 8/1
3 Jessaprimadonna –C Furlonger– C Spada –10/1
4 Jm Southern Express –R Moreno– J Pascoe– 4/1
5 Perrier Special– T Phillips –E Lehtinen –7/2
6 Twixt of Fate –B Bell– M Woodley –6/1
7 Streakinlilwagon –I E Mosqueira –J Pascoe –3/1
8 Americas Rocket Man– C Spataro –C Spada –10/1
9 Rosie Perry– C Jeschke –C Spada –12/1
10 Sr Blue Hawk –R S Castillo –J Pascoe –15/1
Owners: 1 – Craig Spada and Doug Hart ; 2 – Robertson, Carol and Jaime ; 3 – Craig Spada and Isaak Fehr ; 4 – GFR Equine Services ; 5 – Lehtinen, Joyce and Erik ; 6 – Richard Wincikaby ; 7 – GFR Equine Services ; 8 – Irwin Wall ; 9 – Erin Chrisman ; 10 – Amelie Aubut
Breeders: 1 – Kk Horse Racing; 2 – Carol and Jaime Robertson; 3 – Leroy Janacek Jr; 4 – Jimmy Maddux; 5 – Joyce And/Or Erik Lehtinen; 6 – Gary McNichol; 7 – Gfr Equine Services; 8 – Irwin Wall; 9 – Erin Chrisman; 10 – Silvia Robles