AJAX DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 - GFR EQUINE SERVICES'
STREAKINLILWAGON turned on the jets late to win the $61,020 Picov Derby for 3-year-old Quarter horses on September 29 at Ajax Downs. The small bay filly and her rider Ismael Mosquiera overcame a bit of an awkward start at the outset of the 400-yard dash, chased Twixt of Fate, and then overhauled that big gelding about 100 yards from the finish to win by three-quarter of a length. It was the fourth straight victory for the Jason Pascoe trainee.
Twixt of Fate, owned by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Michelle Woodley, held second over a closing Had to Be Relentless, owned by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson. The time, run into a headwind of 18 mph, was 20.326 for an 88 speed index.
Perrier Special, winner of the fastest of two Trials for the Picov Derby, was a late scratch.
Streakinlilwagon, is an Oklahoma bred by Fast Prize Jordan from the mare La Jollas Fortune, and was bred by GFR Equine, which is owned by Jason Pascoe and Bryanne Langford of Pontypool, ON.
"She was a little bit behind [Twixt of Fate] but you just have to be patient and get her speed under her legs," said Mosquiera who was winning his biggest race of his career at Ajax Downs and his third of the day. "She's just an amazing filly with great speed and finish."
Pascoe was celebrating his second consecutive Picov Derby, taking last year's edition with Ec Grey's Anatomy.
"When we started working with her we thought she was pretty decent but she was really, really small, that was our biggest concern. But she's really light on the ground, she knows how to win races and we're very lucky to have her."
Pascoe and Langford raced the filly's champion half brother, Streakinshagginwagon, the 2014 Horse of the Year.
The Picov Derby was the fifth win in nine races for Streakinlilwagon this year and ninth overall from 14 starts. She won the $83,000 Canterbury Derby in Minnesota on Aug. 11. Her career earnings stand at $157,319.
Earlier in the afternoon
, HAD TO BE IVORY won the day's co-featured
Ontario Bred Maturity, worth $41,040 for his third straight victory of 2021. The 2019 Horse of the Year, owned by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson and ridden by Cory Spataro, held off a determined rally by Ralph Pearson's Countrys Comin Bac to win the 400-yard race in 20.090 for a 94 speed index. The big Ontario bred by Ivory James, foaled at the Robertson's Hillerin Farm in Hillsburgh, was coming off a track-record setting win in the QROOI Distance series (2). The 6-year-old has won three of four races in 2021 and 16 of 20 starts with career earnings of $275,181.
Had to Be Ivory (right) reaches out to win the $41,040 Ontario Bred Maturity. New Image Media Photo.
Next week's racing, October 6, features the
Trials for the prestigious Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds. To pre-register to attend the day of racing, go to
www.ajaxdowns.com and sign up beginning Oct. 4.
Follow Ajax Downs on social media @AjaxDowns for updates.
To learn more about getting into the Quarter Horse industry as an owner or part-owner, please contact the
Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at
www.qrooi.com.
Click here for the full video of Sept. 29 race card.
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