Page 257 - September 2022

Ontario Bred Derby
FIRST COLD WAVE
by John Moorehouse
First Cold Wave notched his third career stakes win on July 27 at Ajax Downs, capturing the $39,955 Ontario Bred Derby.
Jason Pascoe trains First Cold Wave, who outdueled Night Leader for victory in this one. Pascoe prepped four winners on the July 27 card at Ajax.
First Cold Wave led Night Leader by a neck going into the stretch, then held on to win by that same margin. Brian Bell was in the irons as First Cold Wave finished the 300 yards in :15.463, posting a 92 speed index while benefiting from a 13 mph tailwind.
Robert Bailey home-bred the three-year-old gelding, who was Ajax Downs’ Horse of the Year in 2021 after winning both the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity and Alex Picov Memorial Futurity. First Cold Wave now has six wins in 12 lifetime starts. He’s made all but one of his outs at the Canadian track. The $16,476 payday from this event increased the gelding’s total earnings to six figures at $104,566.
Bailey bred First Cold Wave out of winner Cassies Carver, who finished third in the 2012 Fort Erie Derby. First Cold Wave is her first winner from three starters.
Night Leader (El Night Shift-Bajillion) finished second by daylight for owners Scott Reid and John Wilson. Reid also trains Night Leader, who had Carly Furlonger in the irons. Another of the four Pascoe trainees in the field, Kold Kinda Star (Cold Hard Dash-Kool Kinda Star) hit the board in third for Milena Kwiecien. Ramiro Castillo was aboard.
Blazin Magician (Maryland Magic-Gotta Blazin Body), Magic Flare (Maryland Magic- Fire Within), Rapter (Bodacious Jess-Make Us A Miracle), Keepr Of The Stars (Star Fire Dash- Dazzlin Lady), and Oh My Gawd (Wave Carver- Andaley Okey) completed the finishing order.
Ontario Bred Maturity
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Michael Compton
Had To Be Ivory entered the $30,202 Ontario Bred Maturity at Ajax Downs on Aug. 21 on a three-race win streak, having proven unbeatable
in all three 2022 outings. At the conclusion of the Maturity, the classy 7-year-old gelding successfully extended his win streak and remained undefeated on the season by winning the 400-yard event for the third straight year.
Had To Be Ivory stood tallest at the end, but he had to earn the victory. With jockey Cory Spataro aboard, Had To Be Ivory broke alertly and chased Countrys Comin Bac in the early stages. He collared the pacesetter in the lane and the pair dueled to the finish together with Had To Be Ivory prevailing
by a neck at the wire. Had To Be Ivory stopped the timer in :19.779, just missing his own track record of :19.443 set in 2021. The final clocking earned a 103 speed index.
In winning for the 20th time in his spectacular 26-start career, Had To Be Ivory has now amassed earnings of $253,765.
An Ontario homebred for Carol and Jaime Robertson, the bay gelding is trained by Bryn Robertson. Had to Be Ivory is produced from the Hadtobenuts mare Had to Be Fandango.
Countrys Comin Bac (Country Chicks Man-Bac to Center) showed the way early under Cassandra Jeschke and once headed, never gave up to finish determined second for owner-breeder Ralph Pearson and trainer Don Reid.
Countryfried Chicken (Country Chicks Man-La Wanda) and jockey Brian Bell reported home in third, 1 1/2-lengths behind the runner-up in the colors of owner Milena Kwiecien. Jason Pascoe conditions the 4-year-old gelding.
Sugarmans Delight (Sugarman Perry-Wonders Delight), and Twixt of Fate (Streakin Six Cartel- Eyesa Quick) completed the order of finish.
QROOI Sprint Series #3
NIGHT FISHN
by Danny Camp
$15,212 was the bait used by Ajax Downs to catch Night Fishin. The eight year old sorrel mare was lured in by the total purse and she took home the $6,474 first place check in the QROOI Sprint Series #3 at 250-yards.
Ridden by Ramiro Castillo, the mare broke on top from the 2-post and completed the wire-to-wire victory with a head lead. Owned and bred by Mary Schrama, Night Fishn completed the distance in :13.155, while posting a 101 speed index for trainer Dan Giles. The winner’s share of this purse pushed the filly’s cumulative earnings to $111,907.
Raced exclusively at Ajax Downs, Night Fishn has won nine races from 32 starts, including the OROOI Sprint Series #3 Stakesin 2020 and the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity in 2018.
Mary Schrama bred Night Fishn out of winner Fisher Lines, who finished third in the 2011 Princess Stakes Derby. She has produced 100% stakes winners from two starters, including Canada Hi-Point Aged Mare Ice Fishn, who won the 2015 Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity and was third in the 2017 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity. Night Fishn is her top earner.
Streakinlilwagon (Fast Prize Jordan-La Jollas Fortune) and jockey Ismael Mosqueira finished second for owner GFR Equine Services and trainer Jason Pascoe. The filly won last year’s Picov Derby and Canterbury Park Derby. Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou) ran a steady and even race under Brian Bell to pocket the third place check for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe. Brian Bell was in the irons. The gelding was coming off a victory in the QROOI Sprint Series #2 Stakes in June.
Bodhi (Corona Cartel-Girl In The Curl TB), Maryland Magic (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Purley Un Social), Zoxtobeyou (Pappasito-A Leading Memory) and Memory Of Griffin (One Fabulous Eagle-Is It Memorex) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
Ajax Downs • $30,202
400 yards • :19.779 • si 103
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Ivory James
HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Ajax Downs • $39,955
300 yards • :15.463 • si 92
First Down Dash
Cold Hard Dash
FIRST COLD WAVE, ‘19-g. Cassies Carver
This Snow Is Cold Wave Carver
Rosas Special
Ajax Downs • $15,212
250 yards • :13.155 • si 101
Mr Jess Perry
Sugarman Perry
NIGHT FISHN, ‘14-m. Fisher Lines
Down Town Miss Fishers Dash
Night Lines
SPEEDHORSE September 2022 255
Clive Cohen
Clive Cohen
Clive Cohen