Page 187 - August 2017

Ontario Sires Stakes Derby
GHOST PINES
by John Moorehouse
Ghost Pines one-upped her stablemate in the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby, held July 16 at Ajax Downs. The 3-year-old filly won the $49,774 event by a nose, notching her second victory in four career outs.
Brian Bell was aboard Ghost Pines, who emerged from the 8-gate and worked her way up to third place heading into the stretch. Ghost Pines made a big move during the final yards, proving best by a nose at the wire. The filly completed her 350-yard trip in :17.860, posting a 93 speed index.
Both Ghost Pines, the derby winner, and runner-up Later Tater are owned by Gary McNichol and trained by Michelle Woodley. Ghost Pines brought home a $19,910 prize for this stakes victory, improving her cumulative earnings to $28,783.
Ghost Pines, making just one out as a 2 year old, returned to the track after an absence of nearly nine months to break her maiden in a 220-yard out held May 7 at Ajax Downs.
McNichol home-bred Ghost Pines, who becomes the first stakes winner out of winner Quick Six Lady. She has two starters/winners from five offspring.
McNichol also home-bred Later Tater (Wild Boyz-Eyesa Quick), second under Cory Spataro. Home To Vegas (Down Home Vegas-Cash Into Vegas), the pre-race favorite, finished third for own- ers Brian Samis and Marie Broadstock. The Bob Broadstock trainee had Tony Phillips aboard.
Home Ice (Iced N Oak-Driving Annie Home), Arising Miracle (Black Moons Arising-Miracle Empress), Dash To Miami (Dash To The Arctic- Miami Movin), Shazamataz (Mr Jess Tex-Double Dashin Shazam), Yawlplayingwithfire (Fire Finder- Okey Dokey Yawl) and By Royal Appointment (Royal Ligigation-Royal Gate) completed the field. Flirt With The Boyz was scratched.
Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity
ALAKAZAAM
by John Moorehouse
Alakazaam granted the wishes of his connections on July 16 at Ajax Downs, winning the $47,245 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity.
Greg Watson trains Alakazaam, who covered the 330 yards in :16.690, posting a career-best 102 speed index. The gelding made a clean break from the 8-gate and lagged at the first call, but made a huge move, surging to the front of the field by a nose as he entered the stretch. Alakazaam held off any competi- tors from there, reaching the finish line first by a neck. Julian Serrano drew the riding assignment.
Full Circle Racing and Cummings Cattle Company own Alakazaam, a four-year-old gelding who reached the winner’s circle for the eighth time from 16 career starts. This marked the second victory in stakes company for Canada Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Gelding Alakazaam. He captured last year’s running of the Ontario Sires Stakes Derby also at Ajax Downs and has now earned $76,062.
Lucas Racing, Inc., bred both Alakazaam and his dam, multiple graded stakes placed Corona Deluxe. The mare has produced 11 starters, including stakes winners Country Boy Deluxe and Eagle Deluxe. Top earner Reagal Eagle, finished second in the 2013 All American Futurity-G1.
Hope Rambles On (Ramblin On Down-Bottoms Up Corona) finished second under Brian Bell for owners Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre. Don Reid is the trainer. Watson also trains Ice Fishn (Iced N Oak-Fisher Lines), who finished third for Stephanie Keeble. Danielle DiBert was aboard.
Eyesa Speedy Simon (Its All About Speed-Eyesa Player), DM Aurora (DM Selexus-Just Look At My Form), Albertt (Mr Jess Tex-Squincheyes), Dinahlicious (Bodacious Jess-Dinah Carolina), Cruwysn The Arctic (Dash To The Arctic-Sobriety Miss) & Yawl Keep Texting (Mr Jess Tex-Okey Dokey Yawl) completed the field. Eye Got Yer Back scratched.
John Deere AJX Downs Juv. Chal.
HAD TO BE IVORY
by John Moorehouse
The racing career of Had To Be Ivory is off to a fine start. The gelding ran to victory in the $20,617 John Deere Ajax Downs Juvenile Challenge on July 9.
Second-fastest qualifier from the June 18 trials, Had To Be Ivory got away from the 4-gate and was running a close fourth at the first call. For trainer Bryn Robertson and under the confident handling of jockey Tony Phillips, Had To Be Ivory worked
his way up to second as he entered the stretch, then chased down Carneros to get to the finish line first by a neck. The pair crossed the wire in :17.990, earn- ing an 89 speed index in his stakes-winning trip.
Had To Be Ivory now has two wins in as many outs, making him undefeated. Owners Carol and Jamie Robertson banked a $9,483 payday that improved his total bankroll to $12,825 and qualified for the John Deere Juvenile Championship. That race will be held on Oct. 14 at Prairie Meadows, and will have a guaranteed purse of $130,000.
The young gelding is the first starter out of his dam, Had To Be Fandango, who won the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. The mare also finished second in the 2011 Princess Stakes Derby, 2012 All Canadian Classic Maturity and 2012 Alex Picov Memorial Championship, all ran at Ajax Downs.
Jason Pascoe trains both the second- and third-place finishers. Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou) finished second for owner Milena Kwiecien. Rene Gutierrez was in the irons. Amelie Aubut owns Silky Senator (Louisiana Senator-Denali Peak), who hit the board in third with Ramiro Castillo aboard.
Miss Racy Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Miss Racy First Down), Zoomn Blue (Mezoomn-Eyesa Chickin It Out), Island Vodka (Triple Vodka-Pantherisland) and Lethal PYC (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Lethal Delight) completed the field. Azoomin Fury, Diane Dynamite and Express Your Desire were scratched.
Ajax Downs • $49,774 350 yards • :17.860 • si 93
Fire Finder GHOST PINES, ‘14-f.
Walk Thru Fire
Finder
Tres Seis
Quick Six Lady
Quick Glass
Ajax Downs • $47,245 330 yards • :16.690 • si 102
Mezoomn ALAKAZAAM, ‘13-g.
Shazoom
Rosas Special Corona Cartel
Corona Deluxe
First Down N Surfin
Ajax Downs • $20,617 350 yards • :17.990 • si 89
Ivory James HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
SPEEDHORSE, August 2017 185
RACING NEWS
Laurie Overton/Clive Cohen Photography
Laurie Overton/Clive Cohen Photography
Clive Cohen