Countryfried Chicken fastest qualifier for Ontario Bred Derby at Ajax Downs

Published July 29, 2021 at 2:21 pm

countryfried_chicken

Countryfried Chicken won the fastest of two Trials for the upcoming Ontario Bred Derby, winning Wednesday’s qualifier at Ajax Downs by a head over Twixt of Fate.

The Derby, for 3-year-old Quarter Horses foaled in Ontario, is worth $50,000 and will be held August 11 with the fastest 10 horses from the two trials earning the right to be in the starting gate.

Countryfried Chicken, trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, was quick out of the gate in the second of the two 300-yard qualifiers and held a short lead over his rivals to the finish, edging Twixt of Fate at the finish. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to Whos Hot Now.

Countryfried Chicken, a son of Country Chicks Man, stopped the teletimer in a fast 15.384 for a career best 95 speed index. He paid $3.20 to win as the heavy favourite following the late scratch of early choice Perrier Special.

In the first Trial, Had to be Relentless put in a sustained late run to just grab the win by a neck in 15.508 for a 91 speed index. The bay son of He’s Relentless and half brother to 2019 Horse of the Year Had to Be Ivory, paid $3,50 as the public choice.

Whisky James led late in the race and held second by a neck over Bogie Wheels.

It was a big day for Had to Be Relentless jockey Ismael Mosquiera who won four of the nine races on the afternoon, to land himself in a tie for the leading rider at the 2021 meeting with Cory Spataro, each with 10 wins. Three of Mosquera’s wins came on horses trained by Jason Pascoe, who also won four on the day to give him a meet-leading 15 victories.

Racing at Ajax Downs continues next Wednesday, August 4 and fans can register at www.ajaxdowns.com to reserve a spot to attend the races. First race post time is 1:30 p.m.

Top 10 Qualifiers for $50,000 Ontario Bred Derby, August 11

Horse Race# Post Pos. Time Trainer Jockey Owner

1 Countryfried Chicken 6 3 15.384 1 Pascoe/Vanek/Kwiecien
2 Twixt of Fate 6 8 15.415 2 Woodley/Spataro/Wincikaby
3 Had to be Relentless 5 9 15.508 1 Robertson/Mosqueira/Robertson
4 Whisky James 5 3 15.544 2 Pascoe/Spataro/Rosiak
5 Bogie Wheels 5 7 15.581 3 Wood/Phillips/Bogar
6 Whos Hot Now 6 5 15.669 3 Broadstock/Mosqueira/Broadstock&Paiement
7 Hanover Hill Lynda 5 1 15.797 4 Tavares/Bell/Picov Cattle
8 Jess Raven 6 2 15.798 4 Reid/S Scott/Raven Racing
9 Hanover Hill Theresa 5 8 15.808 5 Tavares/Jeschke/Picov Cattle
10 Memory of Griffin 5 6 15.843 6 Lehtinen/Castillo/Lehtinen

With files from Jennifer Morrison

Photo: New Image Media

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