One of the most exciting races of Ajax Downs' 50th Anniversary season occurred Sept. 30 when champion Country Boy 123 dead heated with Countrys Comin Bac in the final of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Sprint Series final.
In front of a large and boisterous Monday afternoon crowd, Country Boy 123, the three-time Horse of the Year at the Quarter Horse track was up in the final jump of the 250-yard dash to dead heat with Countrys Comin Bac.
Sent off as the 4 to 5 choice in the Sprint Series final, Country Boy 123 broke well from post position 4 under jockey Ed Walton but had to turn on the jets late to catch up to Countrys Comin Bac.
Owned and trained by Ralph Pearson and ridden by Ramiro Sanchez Castillo, Countrys Comin Bac broke smartly from post position one and led until the final stride before the favourite surged to land in the tie.
"Mr. Pearson did a great job," said Sanchez Castillo. "For me this was the biggest race of the year."
Pearson, one of the founders of Quarter Horse Racing in Ontario, purchased Countrys Comin Bac from Ontario breeder Marko Naterer and has seen his pride and joy win 11 of 32 races and over $150,000.
"Today, I had [Country Boy 123] at 200 yards, I had him at 220 and I nearly got him at 250," said Pearson about his short distance specialist.
Country Boy 123, owned and trained by Hillsburgh, ON resident Ruth Barbour will move on and complete his 2019 Ajax season in the Oct. 14 Alex Picov Memorial Championship at 440 yards.
The big dark bay has won 21 of 33 starts for earnings of over $360,000.
Three racing dates remain in the 2019 Ajax Downs season.
Next Monday, Oct. 7 features the final of the prestigious Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds followed by a special Thanksgiving Monday card Oct. 14 with a pumpkin giveaway for decorating the first 100 kids. The Quarter Horse season wraps up on Oct. 21.
To find out more about racing and events at Ajax Downs follow the track on Twitter (@AjaxDowns), Instagram and Facebook or at
Ajax Downs Live Quarter Horse Racing - Ajax Ontario
To find out more about owning a racing Quarter Horse contact
www.qrooi.com.
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