Page 60 - Canada Spring 2021

C l i v e C o h e n P h o t o g r a p h y
AUGUST 19, 2020
Ajax Downs • $17,352 220 yards • :11.889 • si 102
Chicks Beduino
Country Chicks Man
COUNTRY BOY 123, ‘13-g. Very Dashin 123
Country Zevi Dash Thru Traffic
Very Striking
QROOI Sprint Series #2 Stakes
COUNTRY BOY 123
by Tracy Gantz
Country Boy 123 is both con- sistent and durable. In taking his latest stakes at Ajax Downs, the
$17,352 QROOI Sprint Series #2 Stakes, the 7-year-old was winning his 25th race in 39 starts. He has won or finished second in 33 of those 39 races.
No stranger to Ajax Downs, where he has spent much of his career, Country Boy 123 went off as the 1-2 favorite under jockey Ed Walton. He got away quickly and on top from the outside post position and motored the 220 yards in :11.889 to win wire-to- wire by 3/4-length.
Ruth Barbour owns and trains Country Boy 123, who has now won 12 stakes during his career.
All have come at Ajax except
for back-to-back editions of the Bradford Stakes at Indiana Grand in 2019-20. Carolyn Bay bred the gelding in Michigan from her homebred Very Dashin 123. The mare won the 2008 Texas Distaff Challenge-G3 and has produced four starters, all winners.
Helen Vanek rode Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou) to second for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe. Carneros was coming off
a victory in the QROOI Sprint Series #1 Stakes.
Arctic Fame (Dash To The Arctic-Magic Ta Fame) finished
third under jockey Brian Bell. Scott Reid trains the 9-year- old gelding for owner George Coleman. Arctic Fame finished third in the 2014 Ontario Sires Stakes Derby.
Completing the field were Chicksdigmymoneybags (Chicks Regard-Aaneta), Countrys Comin Bac (Country Chicks Man-Bac To Center), Jess A Sweet Suprize (Sweet First Down-Jess Curl My Prize), Eye Am Potato (Teller Cartel-Double Two Stepper), Zoxtobeyou (Pappasito-A Leading Memory) and Queens Award (Winners Award-Copper State Queen).
60 SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2021