**Coming up this weekend:

FATHER’S DAY at Ajax Downs. Bring the Dads out for a big card of racing including the Bonus Challenge Derby, marking the return of the undefeated HAD TO BE IVORY, the Champion 2yo of 2017.

Also, COUNTRY BOY 123, the 2-time Horse of the Year, is back in action after winning the Picov Maturity 2 weeks ago. he headlines the first leg of the Distance Series. The first leg of the Sprint series also is on the card.

Put in an entry to try and win a Keg Party for your Dad from BROCK STREET BREWERY..

and on JUNE 24 – THE FIRST LEG of the PICK 6 HANDICAPPING CONTEST takes place, co-sponsored by Ontario Racing and OQHR Industry Development Program.

A $10 entry fee with cash prizes and a chance advance to the final on Oct. 15!

 

ON THE UP AND UP

The popularity of Quarter Horse racing is on the rise in 2018 and the increase in race fields has helped wagering numbers.

The June 10 card of racing, the 6th day of the meeting broke records as wagering jumped 102% over the same card last season.

A birthday group in the VIP room joined one of the winning horses on the afternoon and the crowd on-track was strong all day.

It was an impressive card of racing with the biggest fields of the season including a 10-horse race for 2-year-olds, most of them making their first career starts.

The starting gate crew, under head starter Steve Curtis, has  worked tirelessly this season to help trainers prepare horses and it is showing.

Jockeys Brian Bell and Ed Walton hogged the card with the former winning 4 races and the latter winning 3. The other winner on the day was Chelsey Willick.

The feature race June 10 was the final of the Bonus Challenge Maiden with a purse of over $25,000 and it was won by the impressive filly PAINT ME SOUTHERN, who is 3 for 3 at the meeting for Milena Kwiecien. The dark bay 3-year-old, trained by Jason Pascoe was winless in 6 races last year before she was bought by Kwiecien. The daughter of top sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon is now at Canterbury Downs where the Pascoe team, under assistant Bryanne Langford, is assembling horses for big stakes events. (read more below).

Other highlights from last Sunday’s racing included Karen Kennedy winning her first race as an owner (solely) when Miss Her Madly won her maiden in race 2. Kennedy is the wife of trainer Rick Kennedy.

The first 2yo race of the season went to SPY FOR THE SENATE, a Louisiana Senator colt for the Kwiecien/Pascoe team. He had been 4th and 8th in 2 races at Remington Park.

Don Reid unleashed a nice debut runner in CHASE THIS YAWL, bred and owned by Richard Wincikaby and Reid’s DK Training Centre. This bay gelding by Mr Jess Tex ran 350 yards in 15.85 for an 85 Speed Index.

New Image Media Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And GHOST PINES won again for Gary McNichol and trainer Michelle Woodley who is 3 for 3 at the meeting. The grey 4yo by Fire Finder is 5 for 8 in her career and is one of the top distaffers on the circuit.

 

Below is the replay of the Bonus Challenge Maiden final:

 

TALES FROM CANTERBURY

Ontario horsepeople Kwiecien, Pascoe, Lehtinens have contenders in Minny

Ajax horsepeople are in come exciting races coming up in the U.S. beginning Saturday in the trials for the Mystic Lake Northland Futurity.

The finals are July 8.

Milena Kwicien has CHICKEN LIPS in the first trial, a son of Jess Lips who was recently 2nd in a maiden race at Remington Park.

The owner’s MILDRED DIDRIKSON (named for a famous American athlete) is in the 2nd trial and this filly by Desirio was only recently purchased following a maiden claiming win with a 93 Speed Index.

And Joyce and Erik Lehtinen’s SHES SIZZLING, an Ontario bred filly,is a 7 to 2 choice in the 5th trial on the afternoon and Pascoe is saddling her.

 

RACE 1 – SATURDAY – 12:50 P.M. POST TIME

1st trial. of Mystic Lake Northland Futurity – 350 yards

1 Corona Rock Star (TX) 2/G BL J Vega 122 J Olmstead 15/1
2 R Favorite Lady (OK) 2/F BL D Velazquez 122 J Olmstead 12/1
3 Dashing Fajita (OK) 2/F BL I Suarez Ricardo 122 V Hanson 6/1
4 Mojosie Wales (OK) 2/G BL T Thedford 122 S Manriquez 10/1
5 Chicken Lips (OK) 2/G BL N Ramirez 122 J Pascoe 6/1
6 Cashair (KS) 2/G BL C R Esqueda 122 J Olmstead 10/1
7 Wonderland (OK) 2/F BL M Swiontek 122 T Holdaway 10/1
8 Bhr Flashing Effort (SD) 2/C BL C Clark 122 R D Johnson 7/2
9 Chocolatepaintedkiss (OK) 2/F BL J Torres 122 S Charette-Hill 2/1
First Start Since Reported as Gelding: 1 – Corona Rock Star

Owners: 1 – Tom & Bill Maher ; 2 – Movin On (K. & J. Paulsen) ; 3 – Brenda Reiswig ; 4 – Larry Darter ; 5 – Milena Kwiecien ; 6 – Leo Butell ; 7 – Tim Holdaway ; 8 – Broken Heart Ranch (Chad Pederson) ; 9 – Mark A. Kirby

 

RACE 2 – POST TIME – 1:18 PM

Purse $6,000. (Includes $3,400 – Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund) (Plus $4,000 – MBF – Minnesota Breeders Fund). For Two Year Olds That Remain Eligible For The 2018 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity. Weight: 122 Lbs. Management reserves the right to run 11 horses in the final, with no trials, if 11 horses or fewer enter in to the trials, paying purse monies only to the top 10 finishers. (FINALS TO BE RUN ON SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2018). Nominations Closed Thursday, March 1, with 52. Three Hundred And Fifty Yards.

1 Bhr Courageous Lady (SD) 2/F BL1 J Serrano 122 R D Johnson 15/1
2 Uptown Girl (OK) 2/F BL C R Esqueda 122 J Olmstead 5/2
3 Paint Me Wicked (OK) 2/G BL D Velazquez 122 J Olmstead 12/1
4 Frenemies (CO) 2/F BL1 C Clark 122 R D Johnson 8/1
5 Toys Got a Winner (OK) 2/F BL T Thedford 122 S Manriquez 8/1
6 Mj Heart and Soul (MO) 2/F BL M Swiontek 122 C Hunt 15/1
7 Mansory (TX) 2/G BL I Suarez Ricardo 122 V Hanson 6/1
8 Mildred Didrickson (OK) 2/F BL N Ramirez 122 J Pascoe 7/2
9 Dashin My Lady (OK) 2/F BL B R Packer 122 E R Hardy 5/1
First Start Since Reported as Gelding: 3 – Paint Me Wicked

Owners: 1 – Broken Heart Ranch (Chad Pederson) ; 2 – Sam W. Green ; 3 – Tom & Bill Maher ; 4 – Casey J. Foster ; 5 – Carl W. Marlow ; 6 – Burly R. Jenkins ; 7 – David R. Harsche & Debra Harsche ; 8 – Milena Kwiecien ; 9 – Kendrix Brothers (Harvey, Donald & E. B. Kendrix)

 

RACE 5 – POST TIME – 2:42 PM

Purse $6,000. (Includes $3,400 – Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund) (Plus $4,000 – MBF – Minnesota Breeders Fund). For Two Year Olds That Remain Eligible For The 2018 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity. Weight: 122 Lbs. Management reserves the right to run 11 horses in the final, with no trials, if 11 horses or fewer enter in to the trials, paying purse monies only to the top 10 finishers. (FINALS TO BE RUN ON SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2018). Nominations Closed Thursday, March 1, with 52. Three Hundred And Fifty Yards.

1 Jess Doin Time (MN) 2/F BL C R Esqueda 122 J Olmstead 4/1
2 Take Me Ta Church (OK) 2/F BL B Velazquez 122 P E Swan 10/1
3 Shes Sizzling (ON) 2/F BL N Ramirez 122 J Pascoe 7/2
4 Sea the Fire (MO) 2/G BL1 N G Goodwin 122 R A Hybsha 15/1
5 Make This My Favorit (IA) 2/G BL I Suarez Ricardo 122 M M Campos 10/1
6 One Famous Ocean (TX) 2/F BL D Velazquez 122 J Olmstead 8/1
7 Diamalou (OK) 2/F BL T Thedford 122 S Manriquez 12/1
8 Apolliticaldreamgirl (ND) 2/F BL B R Packer 122 E R Hardy 8/1
9 Thats So Fetch (CO) 2/F BL1 C Clark 122 R D Johnson 15/1
10 Kool Energy (TX) 2/F BL J Torres 122 S Charette-Hill 3/1
Owners: 1 – Tom Pouliot ; 2 – Patrick E. Swan ; 3 – Joyce & Erik Lehtinen ; 4 – Glenda K. Sapp ; 5 – Thomas J. Scheckel ; 6 – Tom and Bill Maher, Summer Run, Inc. (Paul Luedemann) & L Team (Paul Allen) ; 7 – Kenneth Ruthardt ; 8 – Winn Blown Racing (Wayne Lee, Marty Moore & David L. Wisdom) ; 9 – George L. Seward ; 10 – M. C. Stucks

 

ROD PHILLIPS – WINS AJAX MPP

“We will bring jobs to Durham and win our fight to keep Ajax Downs.”

https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/8660516-hard-work-paid-off-phillips-said-of-ajax-win/

 

JOE WARMINGTON IN THE TORONTO SUN – 

There are three remarkable aspects to Rod Phillips stunning win in Ajax Thursday night.

First, with Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives winning the election it should mean that Ajax downs will be able to keep it slots and Quarter Horse racing.

Second, Phillips — a former CEO of both Postmedia and the OLG — is rumoured to be among the names being considered for the province’s next finance minister…read more below:

http://torontosun.com/news/provincial/warmington-former-boardroom-exec-rod-phillips-new-ajax-mpp