Page 45 - 28 September 2012

Alex Picov Memorial Championship Maturity
CAt ViSiOn
by Tracy Gantz
Qualifying 10th for a final doesn’t rule a horse out. Just ask trainer Greg Watson. Watson qualified five horses to the Sept. 11 Alex
Picov Memorial Championship Maturity at Ajax Downs, and Cat Vision came home on top.
“He qualified 10th, and he just smoked in the final,” said Watson, who, along with his wife, Susan, races Cat Vision in the name of their Full Circle Racing.
“I lease him from my daughter, Rebecca Vanderlinde,” said Watson. “He won his first start for us, qualified for the Picov, and then just stepped it up.”
Vanderlinde is also a trainer at Ajax, and she had purchased Cat Vision privately. An Oklahoma-bred, Cat Vision raced for Beverly House while racing primarily in his native state. At Ajax last year when owned and trained by Sandra Laszlo, he finished second in the Fort Erie Derby.
Watson’s qualifiers for the Picov included veteran Rockish, an earner of $289,914,
the 2008 Ontario Horse of the Year, and a two-time winner of the All Canadian Classic. One of the barns on the Watsons’ Full Circle Farm has a plaque that calls it “the barn that Rockish built.”
“A long time ago, I was in racing, when there was no money at Ajax,” said Watson. “I got out, raised a family, and then when we got back in, I felt we had come full circle, which is how we got the name.”
and Felinity is also the dam of double-registered Dos Gatos, who as a Paint won the 2010 Green Country Handicap. The second dam, stakes- placed Six Kitties, has produced Speedhorse Gold
and Silver Cup Derby-RG3 winner Beeline Feline, who in turn is the dam of two graded stakes winners.
Chelsey Willick piloted Had To Be Fandango (Hadtobenuts-Grim Fandango). Owned by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson, Had To Be Fandango finished second in this year’s All Canadian Classic and won the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby.
Lil Fishy (Fishers Dash- Corona Lil) has now finished
third in the last two editions of the Picov. In both years, Erika Smilovsky rode the mare for owner Dream Chaser Farm and trainer Bridgette Cheetham.
Completing the field in the Alex Picov were Jesswatchme (Feature Mr Jess-Watchin The Rain), Shiftin (Gol-Merri Roc), Rockish (Rocky Jones-A Mere Formality), Aquafina (First Down Dash-Runaway Wave), Streaking Eye Opener (Mr Eye Opener-Streakin Sign), Andaley Okey (Andalay Get-Okey Dokey Yawl), and Shaikh Down (Get Down Perry-Reckless Wish).
Rockish, now eight, has competed in the past four runnings of the Picov, finishing sec- ond twice, third once, and sixth this year. In 2012, it was Cat Vision’s time to shine, despite his being the longest shot in
the field at more than 40-1.
Favored Lil Fishy took the lead in the 440-yard Picov, and at first it seemed like he would have the race all his own way. However, Cat Vision didn’t pay any attention to
his odds. With Tony Phillips aboard, he put in a huge run toward the end to power by Lil Fishy and Had To Be Fandango. Cat Vision won by a half-length in :21.840, while Had To Be Fandango edged Lil Fishy by a head for second.
“Our horses are like our family,” said Watson. “Rebecca just loves Cat Vision. We’ve looked after him. I told her he would be tough. He’s a class act.”
Watson said that Cat Vision came out of the Picov in great shape. The trainer may point him to the Fort Erie Maturity in October.
Richard Joneson bred Cat Vision by crossing the winning mare Felinity with Real Visions, who stands at the Joneson Ranch in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Cat Vision is the mare’s first Quarter Horse winner from two Quarter Horse starters,
Ajax Downs $125,714 • 440 yards :21.840 • si 101
Streakin La Jolla
Real Visions
Vision Of Dash
CAT VISION, ’08-g.
Rare Form
Felinity
Six Kitties
Cat Vision and jockey Tony Phillips score a half-length victory in the $125,714 Alex Picov Memorial Championship at Ajax Downs.
SPEEDHORSE, September 28, 2012 45
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