A current star and a star of the future wowed a big crowd at Ajax Downs for Father's Day, 2018. On a very warm summer Sunday the action on the track was sizzling hot as
COUNTRY BOY 123, the Ajax Downs Horse of the Year in 2017 and 2016 kept his seasonal record unblemished with a victory in the first leg of the $19,000 Distance Series.
Ruth Barbour's champion gelding, now 5-years-old, was coming off a win in the Picov Maturity on June 3 and powered to victory once again in the 350-yard Distance Series, sponsored by the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario. Ridden by Innisfil's Cory Spataro, Country Boy 123 won by half a length over rival One Famous Glass for his 14th career win in 22 starts.
Earlier on the nine-race card,
HAD TO BE IVORY, the champion 2-year-old male of 2017 made a stunning return to the races with a victory in the featured $22,800 Bonus Challenge Derby, scorching 300 yards in :15.20 for a 107 Speed Index. Had to Be Ivory, owned by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson, was unbeaten five races in 2017 and came back better than ever to win under Tony Phillips.
Fans can look forward to a possible showdown between
Country Boy 123 and Had to Be Ivory this fall.
In the $21,840 Sprint Series, the amazing 10-year-old
ONE KOOL WAVE won for the 25th time in his illustrious career for Robert Bailey and DK Training Centre. The almost-white gelding won the 110-yard 'Gridiron Gallop' in a time of :6.83, just 1 1/100th of a second off his own track record set in 2012.
Racing resumes at Ajax Downs on Sunday, June 24 with the annual
Pick 6 Handicapping Contest for fans. The fee to enter is $10 and there are cash prizes for the top finishers.
For more information please visit
www.ajaxdowns.com
Courtesy of Ajax Downs
New Image Media photo
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