AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 9, 2021 - Ten of the top 3-year-old Quarter Horses at Ajax Downs will compete for the winner's share of $57,060 in the ONTARIO BRED DERBY at 300-yards on Wednesday, August 11.
The Derby is race nine on a super card of racing which also includes the second leg of the QROOI DISTANCE SERIES, a 400-yard test that has lured champions HAD TO BE IVORY and COUNTRY BOY 123 in their first meeting since October 2019.
Ontario bred Derby Trial winners COUNTRYFRIED CHICKEN (
pictured, New Image Media) and HAD TO BE RELENTLESS will vie for favoritism in a competitive field made up of horses owned by nine different owners and nine different breeders.
Countryfried Chicken overcame a stumble at the start of his Trial on July 28 to win by a neck in 15.38 for a 95-speed index, the slightly faster of the two Trials. The bay gelding's best asset is his quickness from the gate which has netted him three career wins from 14 races for owner and breeder Milena Kwiecien of Burlington. Ajax Downs' leading trainer Jason Pascoe will saddle Countryfried Chicken who will break from post eight with Helen Vanek riding.
Carol and Jaime Robertson of HIllsbrugh are the owners and breeders of Had to Be Relentless, a big bay who has a powerful late kick. Trained by Carol's husband Bryn, Had to Be Relentless (post position three) won his Trial with a late surge in 15.50, a 91-speed index, under leading rider Ismael Mosquiera.
Twixt of Fate, owned by New Liskeard's Richard Wincikaby, was making his 2021 debut when a fast-closing second to Countryfried Chicken in their Trial and won last year's Ontario Bred Futurity. Cory Spataro will ride from post eight.
Whiskey James, owned by Anna Rosiak of Milton, and Bogie Wheels, from James Bogar's farm in Cameron are also top contenders.
*Race seven is the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Distance Series-2 worth $20,040. Had to be Ivory, the older half brother of Had to be Relentless, comes off an easy win July 21 in his third outing this season. Country Boy 123, a close second in the Bradford Stakes in Indiana in early July, comes off a troubled run in the Sprint Series on July 21 when he lunged up in the air at the start and finished ninth. The pair will have to get past Spy for the Senate, who won the first leg of the Distance Series on July 7.
*First race post time on Wednesday is 1:30 p.m. and fans are invited to attend the fun day of racing by registering at
www.ajaxdowns.com. You can follow Ajax Downs on Twitter, Facebook and Twitter @AjaxDowns.com and catch the live stream of the racing day on our Facebook page. Wagering is available through
www.HPIbet.com.
FIELD FOR THE 4TH ONTARIO BRED DERBY
Purse $57,060. Three Hundred Yards.
PP Horse Jockey Trainer M/L
1 Whos Hot Now R S Castillo B Broadstock 8/1
2 Memory of Griffin L Desouza E Lehtinen 15/1
3 Had to Be Relentless I E Mosqueira B Robertson 4/1
4 Hanover Hill Theresa C Jeschke J Tavares 10/1
5 Jess Raven J Scott S Reid 10/1
6 Bogie Wheels T Phillips B Wood 8/1
7 Hanover Hill Lynda C Jeschke J Tavares 12/1
8 Countryfried Chicken H M Vanek J Pascoe 3/1
9 Twixt of Fate C Spataro M Woodley 7/2
10 Whisky James B Bell J Pascoe 6/1
Owners: 1 - Marie Broadstock and Josee Paiment ; 2 - Lehtinen, Joyce and Erik ; 3 - Robertson, Carol and Jaime ; 4 - Picov Cattle Co. ; 5 - Raven Racing Syndicate ; 6 - James Bogar ; 7 - Picov Cattle Co. ; 8 - Milena Kwiecien ; 9 - Richard Wincikaby ; 10 - Anna Rosiak
Breeders: 1 - Marie Broadstock; 2 - Joyce And/Or Erik Lehtinen; 3 - Carol and Jaime Robertson; 4 - Picov Cattle Co; 5 - R Wincikaby and Dk Training; 6 - Four Leaf Racing; 7 - Picov Cattle Co; 8 - Milena Kwiecien; 9 - Gary McNichol; 10 - Guylaine Paquin
More Top Racing Headlines