AJAX DOWNS, OCTOBER 6, 2021 - Two exciting Time Trials for the richest race of the 2021 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse season, the $100,000 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds were held Wednesday setting up a strong field for the final on October 27.
SW THE REDEEMER, owned by Milena Kwiecien of Burlington, ON and trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, broke quickest in the first 400-yard Trial and raced to a 1 1/4 length victory under jockey Ricardo Moreno, stopping the teletimer in 20.288 for an 89 speed index. The brown gelding's time, assisted b a 11 mph tail wind, was marginally quicker than the clocking of the second Trial won by Richard Wincikaby's
LETHAL TRES SEIS who won by half a length in 20.306.
Sw The Redeemer, making his Ajax Downs debut after beginning his career in the U.S., had finished a close second in the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association Futurity at Canterbury Downs on July 6 before winning his maiden at that track on Aug. 11. The brown gelding by He's Relentless out of the mare Rockin Miss Kitty was the even-money favourite against seven rivals and held off stablemate Eye Live for Candy, who had a troubled start. The top two finishers in the first Trial were the only ones to advance to the final from that race.
Lethal Tres Seis, an impressive winner of his career debut at Ajax Downs on Sept. 1 posted an upset in the second Trial under jockey Cory Spataro. Trained by Michelle Woodley, Lethal Tres Seis was 6 to 1 and held off 64 to 1 shot Blazin Magician, also owned by Kwiecien, and 2 to 5 favourite First Cold Wave, who had a stumbling beginning. Lethal Tres Seis, an Oklahoma-bred by Tres Seis, earned an 89 speed index. Eight of the nine juveniles in the second Trial advanced to the final.
Kwiecien, Ajax Downs' leading owner this season, owns five of the finalists while the meeting's leading trainer, Pascoe, will saddle six for the final.
*Wednesday's feature was the
third and final leg of the $20,220 Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Distance Series which was won by
SPY FOR THE SENATE in near track record time. The 5-year-old horse edged Countrys Comin Bac to win the 440-yard dash by a neck in 21.628 for a whopping 108 speed index. The victory by Spy for the Senate was his second in the three-race Distance Series, earning the Milena Kwiecien-owned horse the Distance Series Trophy. Jason Pascoe trains Spy for the Senate who has now won 11 of 33 races and over $166,000.
*Racing at Ajax Downs
continues on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. First race post time is 12:55 p.m. Fans can register to attend the races by visiting
www.ajaxdowns.com. Keep up to date on Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs by following us on social media. The QROOI (
www.qrooi.com) represents all horsepeople in Quarter Horse racing and offers options to become involved in ownership of your own Quarter Horse.
Top Ten Finalists (in order of fastest times from Two Trials)
$100,000 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity - October 27, Ajax Downs
400 yards
Rank - Horse - Time -- Trainer - Jockey - Owner
1 SW The Redeemer 20.288 Pascoe Moreno Kwiecien
2 Lethal Tres Seis 20.306 Woodley Spataro Wincikaby
3 Blazin Magician 20.384 Pascoe Botello Kwiecien (Ontario bred)
4 First Cold Wave 20.447 Pascoe Bell Bailey (Ontario bred)
5 Keepr of the Stars 20.493 Pascoe Mosqueira Kwiecien (Ontario bred)
6 Magic Flare 20.505 Dunlap Castillo Crispi (Ontario bred)
7 Night Leader 20.507 Reid, S Furlonger Reid/Wilson (Ontario bred)
8 Eye Live for Candy 20.547 Pascoe Mosqueira Kwiecien
9 Rapter 20.594 Reid, S Vanek Reid/McCracken (Ontario bred)
10 SW Snowmagicallykool 20.711 Pascoe Mosqueira Kwiecien
Video of live stream of entire October 6 Ajax Downs card -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI72tWJGZ5M
More Top Racing Headlines