Jessaprimadonna takes crown at Princess Derby at Ajax Downs
Published July 15, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Jessaprimadonna won the $51,660 Princess Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies by a neck over stakes winner Streakinlilwagon in yesterday’s feature race at Ajax Downs.
There were a few anxious moments for Jessaprimadonna before the race as one of the stirrups on jockey Cory Spataro’s saddle broke in the pre-race warm-up. Once Spataro was back aboard, the pair broke fast from post position six and set their sights on Streakinlilwagon in the 350-yard race.
A couple of strides before the finish, Jessaprimadonna surged to win in the time of 17.683 for an impressive 97-speed index rating.
“Right in the post parade my (stirrup broke) and I had to go back and get another saddle,” said Spataro. “It was a little nerve-wracking. But we kept her calm and once she went to the gate she settled right down.”
Jessaprimadonna, who won one of the two Trials for the stakes race despite stumbling at the start, was claimed by co-owner Craig Spada for $10,000 (US) from a race at Evangeline Downs last December.
She has two wins in three starts for Spada and picked up $20,665 for winning the Princess Derby.
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“She sure ran a good race today,’ said Spada. “I think maybe it was from my NHL hockey refereeing days that I learned to deal with pressure situations like this, having to change her saddle. You learn in horse racing every day and today we learned to stay calm and that’s what you do around horses.”
Streakinlilwagon, owned and trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, was one length ahead of Rick Crispi’s Jessies Good Candy while another Spada filly, Rosie Perry, finished fourth.
Race favourite Ice Cream Cartel broke a step slowly and then lost her path to other rivals and wound up eighth.
The 10-race card at Ajax Downs realized $141,378 in wagering, the highest single day of betting since 2013.
Racing continues Wednesday, July 21 with a first race post time of 1:30 p.m. Fans who would like to attend the races can register on-line at www.ajaxdowns.com.