Page 180 - August 2015

Adequan AJX Derby Chal.
SEIZE THE WIN
by John Moorehouse
Seize The Win lived up to his name on July 12
at Ajax Downs, going wire-to-wire to win the $22,966 Adequan Ajax Derby Challenge. The three-year-old colt also earned a spot in the Adequan Derby Championship, set to take place Nov. 7
at Lone Star Park as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championship card.
Owned by Glenn L. Graff, Seize The Win col- lected his third win in stakes company and improved his overall record to 4-3-0 in 10 career outs. Both of his victories during the current campaign have come in stakes races. Seize The Win also took the Hialeah Derby earlier this year, as well as last year’s running of the Governor’s Stakes at Indiana Grand.
That prior record made Seize The Win a strong favorite at the betting window; he went off at approxi- mate 1-2 odds at post time. The colt met those lofty expectations, breaking on top from the 3-gate, leading by a head at the 1st call and staying in front the rest of the way, beating his competitors to the wire by a neck. Trained by Stephanie Keeble, Seize The Win had jockey Shanley Jackson up for the race. The colt finished the 400-yard event in :20.040, registering a 94 speed index aided by a 7 mph tailwind. He also banked a $10,564 payday, which pushed his lifetime earnings to $283,362.
Keeble also trains Eyesa Speedy Simon (Its All About Speed-Eyesa Player), who was 2nd under Carly Furlonger for Brian V. & Jeremy Hall. Deal A Fortune (Dealagame-Separatist Fortune) was 3rd under Aron Hunt for Rick Crispi & trainer Renee Wilson. Followed by Fearghas (First Down Straw-Eyes Like Rapid), Toodles Destiny (First Down Mr Jess-Toodledoo Otoole), Gentlemens Daughter (Separatist-Wild California Rose), Cause Im Dancing (Dance Master TB-The Just Cause), Mountain Cartel (Carters Cartel- Rona Mountain), Fortune Pending (Wave Carver- Fortune Of Delight) & Johnny Gettin Cash (Tres Seis-First Place Kate).
Ontario Sires Stakes Mat.
CRUWYSN THE ARCTIC
by Tracy Gantz
Cruwysn The Arctic had his work cut out for him in the July 1 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity at Ajax Downs. Jesskissmytexas, who had dominated
the competition at the Canadian track, was the fastest qualifier for the Maturity and the odds-on favorite coming to the race with a four-race winning streak. But Cruwysn The Arctic was ready to win his first stakes.
Jesskissmytexas broke slowly in the Maturity, while Cruwysn The Arctic got away well in second after brushing slightly with Reckless An Wild. Not Looking To Shake challenged Cruwysn The Arctic, and the two of them battled together throughout the 330 yards. Jesskissmytexas made up ground, but Cruwysn The Arctic determinedly kept to his task, winning by a head over Not Looking To Shake in :16.920.
Carly Furlonger has ridden Cruwysn The Arctic in his last three starts, since Stephanie Keeble took over his training for owners Bob and Gail Woodward, who bred him in Ontario with W. Cruwys. Cruwysn The Arctic, the only reported foal and starter for
the winning mare Sobriety Miss, has now won six
of 20 races. He ran second to Jesskissmytexas in the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity last Aug. 19.
In 2nd under Halen Vanek for trainer Joe Tavares was Christine Tavares’ Not Looking To Shake (Junos Back-Honky Tonk Shake), who has won 10 races including the 2012 Ontario Bred Maturity. Brian
Bell & multiple stakes winner Jesskissmytexas (Mr Jess Tex-Strawfly Fortune) were 3rd for trainer Kim Ito and owners Richard Wincikaby & DK Training Centre. Followed by Pegasos One Underpar (Down Home Dash-Pegasos Easy Seven), Reckless An Wild (Wild Boyz-Reckless Wish), Sugarnspicenotsonice (Sugarman Perry-Hurricane Caleigh), Cruwysn Down Home (Down Home Dash-Suns Elegant Lady), Chasing Royalty (Royal Ligigation-Chase Yo Mama), Arctic Fame (Dash To The Arctic-Magic Ta Fame) & Sofar Gone (Fastazyoufly-Chico Susie Sue).
John Deere AJX Juv. Chal.
PANTHER HERO
by John Moorehouse
Panther Hero made the most of his debut in stakes company, scoring a dominant victory in the $20,192 John Deere Ajax Downs Juvenile Challenge on July 12.
John S. Wilson owns the two-year-old gelding, who also broke his maiden with the victory. Not only did Wilson collect a $9,894 payday that boosted Panther Hero’s lifetime earnings to $9,967, but the gelding also qualified for the John Deere Juvenile Championship, taking place Nov. 7 at Lone Star Park as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championship card.
Panther Hero finished a distant and disappointing seventh in his maiden out, but made up for it in a big way in this stakes event. He broke well from the inside starting gate, opening up a 1/2-length advantage by the first call. Panther Hero widened the gap to 3/4-lengths by the time he entered the stretch and maintained that margin as he hit the wire. Scott Reid trains Panther Hero, who covered the 350 yards in :18.170 with jockey Cassandra Jeschke aboard. Panther Hero registered an 83 speed index, while benefiting from a 5 mph tailwind.
Carole Lampron bred Panther Hero & owns the his dam, Rona Mountain, who won the 2008 Princess Stakes Futurity at Ajax, the highlight in a 5-win career that produced more than $60,000 in prize money. Both of Rona Mountain’s foals have made starts, but Panther Hero is the first stakes winner out of the mare.
Dean Frey owns & trains the other 2 horses who hit the board. Runner-up Forest Got Skunked (Tac It Like A Man-Seperate Secrets) beat his stablemate by a neck under Berkley Packer. Danielle DiBert was aboard 3rd placed Crazy Keeper (Carters Cartel- Love To Finish First), the biggest longshot in the field at nearly 20-1 odds. Followed by Country Boy 123 (Country Chicks Man-Very Dashin 123), Cool Alley (Royal Blue Chew Chew-Hottie Body), Tres Sea (Tres Seis-Runaway Wave) & Volcoms Kool Kue (Volcom-Mistress Of The Nite). Itoldyouilikeroses & My Kool Investment scratched.
Ajax Downs • $22,966 400 yards • :20.040 • si 94
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
SEIZE THE WIN, ‘12-c. Jess An Illusion
Dashin Follies Mr Jess Perry
Indigo Illusion
Ajax Downs • $42,020 330 yards • :16.920 • si 93
Holland Ease
Dash To The Arctic
Arctic Silk
CRUWYSN THE ARCTIC, ’09-g.
The Corona
Sobriety Miss
Wine And Rosey
Ajax Downs • $20,192 350 yards • :18.170 • si 83
Valiant Hero PANTHER HERO, ‘13-c.
Rona Mountain
First Down Dash Corona Chick Panther Mountain Talk On Rona
178 SPEEDHORSE, August 2015
RACING NEWS
Clive Cohen Photography
Clive Cohen Photography
Clive Cohen Photography