Ruth Barbour had a day at
Ajax Downs on Sept. 17 that she will never forget. Barbour, a practicing veterinarian in Hillsburgh, ON sent out her entire stable of Quarter Horses, numbering just two, and came away with a Futurity Trial victory and another stunning run by her champion
Country Boy 123.
In what was a devastating display of speed, Country Boy 123 set his third career track record in the $23,000 QROOI Sprint Series.
The two-time Horse of the Year, undefeated this year in five previous outings including two stakes races, was meeting a new group of challengers with his first attempt at 250-yards, the shortest distance 5-year-old star has ever attempted. Among his rivals was previous Horse of the Year and 25-race winner One Kool Wave, one of Ajax Downs' most accomplished runners.
Partnered with his regular rider Cory Spataro, Country Boy 123 broke like a bullet from his rail post and streaked to a 1 1/2 length win in a time of 12.92, eclipsing a nine-year-old record set by the amazing Rockish. The time translated into a jaw-dropping 114 speed index, a new top rating for the son of Country Chicks Man, putting him near the top of the older horse division in North America.
Translated into speed, Country Boy 123 was traveling 64 km/hr. His six wins this season puts him in a tie for wins in North America with three American runners.
Ralph Pearson's Countrys Comin Bac charged late for second place and posted his own career best speed index of 108 while 10-year-old One Kool Wave, a neck back in third, put up a 106 speed index.
"Never in my life have I felt so much power," said jockey Cory Spataro, who won three races on the afternoon to maintain his lead in the rider's standings. "I get too much credit for his success, it is everything as a whole that makes him great."
Country Boy 123 is scheduled to make his final Canadian start of this year in the Oct. 8 Alex Picov Memorial Championship. He has won 17 of 25 career races and earned over $286,000 (Can). Country Boy 123 was bred in Michigan by Carolyn Bay.
Earlier in the afternoon, Barbour's grey 2-year-old Chicksdigmymoneybags broke his maiden in the first of two trials for the upcoming, $75,000 Alex Picov Futurity. Breaking from post position nine in the 400-yard dash, Chicksdigmymoneybags surged in the late stages to win by a nose under jockey Regan Knowles. sent off at 21 to 1 in a competitive field, Chicksdigmymoneybags edged favoured Stripper Dust, winner of the Ajax Bonus Futurity in July for owner Milena Kwiecien.
A Texas-bred by Chicks Regard, Chicksdigmymoneybags stopped the teletimer in :20.29 for a 92 speed index. He was an $8,000 (US) purchase by Barbour at the 2017 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma.
The second and slightly quicker trial for the Picov Futurity was won by Kwiecien's Spy for the Senate
, who grabbed the lead from his outside post in mid-race and then held off Ontario-bred Shes Sizzling to win in :20.19 for a 94 speed index. Trained by Jason Pascoe, Spy for the Senate was second to stablemate Stripper Dust in in the Bonus Futurity in his previous start. The bay colt is by Louisiana Senator and US rider Cerapio Figueroa rode.
The Alex Picov Futurity final will be held on Oct. 8 and the 10 qualifiers are listed below. Racing continues each Monday at Ajax Downs.
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Ajax Downs Live Quarter Horse Racing - Ajax Ontario
Courtesy of Ajax Downs
Photo of Country Boy 123 by New Image Media
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