NOVEMBER 2020 THE RIDER /23


Q.R.O.O.I: 50 Alexander Crossing’s, Ajax, ON L0S 1T6 Telephone: (905) 426-7050 • Fax: (905) 426-7093 Email: qrooiheadoffice@gmail.com


www.qrooi.com


PRESIDENT


Bob Broadstock 18101 Cedardale Road, Nestleton, Ontario L0B 1L0 (905) 986-0044 email: bob_broadstock@hotmail.com


VICE-PRESIDENT


Erik Lehtinen RR #2, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R2 (905) 852-5245


Greg Watson 785 Hwy 7A, Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 (705) 277-0248


Bryanne Sheppard 749 Waite Road, Pontypool, ON L0A 1K0


Chantelle Bourgeois - 416-985-7046 Chantelle.Bourgeois@t4g.com


Ralph Pearson - 905-243-4501 ralphpearson@bellnet.ca


James Bogar JBogar@cameronsteel.com


Fiesty Icon Upsets Country Boy 123 in $54,650 Alex Picov Memorial Championship


AJAX DOWNS, Monday, October 12, 2020 - Rick Kennedy’s FIESTY ICON defeated the reigning king of Ajax Downs, Country Boy 123 in a thrilling renewal of the prestigious Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Thanksgiving Monday. The On- tario-bred 8-year-old and jockey Tony Phillips stuck his head out at the fin- ish of the 440-yard race to defeat Country Boy 123, who had won the race the past three seasons. As a 16 to 1 longshot, Feisty


Icon broke well from post eight and led a wave of horses that charged down the outside of the track. Coun- try Boy 123 and jockey Ed Walton had a step-slow start from the gate but quickly joined the filly Shes Sizzling in mid-stretch to get into contention before Fiesty Icon roared past him just before the finish. Country Boy 123 was second by a head over Coun- trys Comin Bac who finished third but was later disqualified and placed fourth for late interference to Spy for


the Senate. The time for the 440 yards was a


sharp 21.745 for a 104 speed index. Fiesty Icon paid $35.60 to win. Fittingly, Fiesty Icon was bred


by the Picov Cattle Company and he is a son of Ontario sire Sugarman Perry. “I decided to enter him [in the


Championship] after his last race, the Ontario Bred Maturity,” said Kennedy, who raises and trains horses with wife Karen on his farm in Mount Albert, ON. “He was second that day but I liked the way he came out of that race. He usually tells me when he is ready to run; I guess he was right.” Kennedy purchased Fiesty Icon


as a yearling from the Picov family and the gelding has had an illustrious career. In fact, Fiesty Icon was the Ajax Downs’ Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old in 2015 and in recent years had been ruling the Ontario Bred older horse ranks. “He’s a fabulous horse, he al-


ways goes out and gives us his all when he runs,” said Kennedy. “After the race another owner, James Bogar, said to me, ‘You must be on cloud nine’. I said it was 10.” The Championship was the 20th


career win in 49 races for Fiesty Icon, who boosted his career earnings to over $355,000. The presentation of the Champi-


onship trophy to the Kennedys, Phillips and Fiesty Icon was made by CKDO Durham radio’s popular morning man Terry Johnson, who also did the post race interview with Phillips


(see video here -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R pqqWLhyjIg&t=53s ) **Two Time Trials for the up-


coming Ontario Sired Derby were also held Monday. JESS CAROLI- NAS AWARD, owned and bred by Guelph’s Ricki Crispi and trained by Tom Dunlap won the first Trial in a time of 18.108 for 350 yards, an 84 speed index. Ramiro Casillo was the


winning rider. Chantelle Bourgeios’ SHAKEN won the second Trial in 18.113, also an 84 speed index, with jockey Cassandra Jeschke The top 10 finalists compete in the final on Oct. 26.


**There are two Mondays left


on the 2020 Ajax Downs calendar and there are stakes races on both days. First race post time is 12:55 p.m. While the track remains closed to fans, you can watch all of the action and place your bets through HPIBet.com and watch the races on the Ajax Downs website, ajaxdowns.com. Keep up to date on news from the track on Twitter and Instagram, @ajaxdowns, and on the track’s Facebook page.


(Photo - Rick Kennedy, owner and trainer of his pride and joy Fiesty Icon, with a jubilant Tony Phillips - Laurie Overton photo)


Streakinlilwagon rolls to big win over colts in $115,600 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity brilliantly


trainer Scott Reid of Bowmanville and rider Josh Scott who combined to win three races on the nine- race card. Their winners were Pegasos Two Underpar for John McCracken of Roseneath, Eleanorr, owned and bred by Reid and George Coleman’s Firing Red


ter once again in Oklahoma and that Streakinlil- wagon could take part in a stakes race south of the border before returning to Ajax Downs for 2021. *It was a good day at Ajax Downs Oct. 5 for


her first race,” said Pascoe, who leads all Ajax train- ers with 22 wins. “She just keeps getting better with each race, we were just hoping it would all come to- gether today.” Pascoe said early plans are for his stable to win-


Louisiana stallion Fast Prize Jordan from the mare La Jolla Fortune remained undefeated at Ajax Downs in four races following her third-place finish in her career debut at Remington Park in April. The filly, whose older half brother Streakinshagginwagon was a Horse of the Year for Pascoe in 2014, has now earned $63,744. “She showed a lot of promise at Remington in


awkward start from the gate and charged to be second for Carol and Jaime Robertson of Hillsburgh and Richard Wincikaby’s Ah Candyland finished third. Streakinlilwagon. an Oklahoma-bred by young


Langford’s GFR Equine Services of Pontypool, ON, Streakinlilwagon under jockey ‘Hurricane’ Helen Vanek, broke sharply at the start of the 400-yard Fu- turity and powered to the finish to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a rapid clocking of :19.911 for an impres- sive 98 speed index. Ontario-bred Had to Be Relentless overcame an


STREAKINLILWAGON sped away from eight ri- vals to win the $115,600 Alex Picov Memorial Futu- rity Monday at Ajax Downs, the richest race of the 2020 season. Owned and bred by Jason Pascoe and Bryanne


AJAX DOWNS, MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 2020 - The


quick 2-year-old filly


Jess.


but you can catch all the excitement, interviews and place your bets through HPIBet.com and watch on Ajaxdowns.com. Follow Ajax Downs on Twitter and Instagram


day, Oct. 12 with the $50,000 Alex Picov Memorial Championship, the top race for older horses. The race is expected to include champion Country Boy 123 who has won the Championship the last three con- secutive years. Racing continues at Ajax Downs without fans


*Stakes action continues Thanksgiving Mon-


www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlE9f8MHi10&t=365s Photo Above: Fast 2-year-old filly STREAKINLIL- WAGON and jockey Helen Vanek race away in the $115,600 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity/John Watkins photo


Photo at Left: “She was just a little squirt” as a foal said Byranne Langford of Streakinlilwagon, now a stakes star- courtesy Bryanne Langford)


@AjaxDowns and on Facebook. Video: Alex Picov Memorial Futurity -


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46