Bell wins three at Ajax Downs to increase his lead in jockey race

Owner/Trainer James Bogar Wins Four, Brian Bell Rides Three Winners on Exciting Ajax Downs Afternoon

It was a big day at Ajax Downs on July 26 for owner and trainer James Bogar of Cameron, ON and jockey Brian Bell of nearby Lindsay. Bogar won four of the seven Quarter Horse races on Wednesday, three with horses that he owns and bred at his farm. Bell won three races, two for Bogar, to pad his lead as the leading jockey for 2023.

Bogar, the president of his family’s Cameron Steel company in Lindsay, has built up a growing Quarter Horse breeding and racing operation over the last five years and the results are showing. A hands-on horseman, Bogar and his assistant Nicole Clark celebrated wins Wednesday by Queen Charlotte, Im Aquick Corona, Jezebella, and Jtc Lil Moonbar, the latter owned by Nicole’s husband Brad.

The victory by Im Aquick Corona in race 4 was one of the day’s most exciting races as the Ontario sired and bred 4-year-old by Bogar’s stallion Caviar and Corona won one of the day’s featured races by half a head over some of the top older horses on the grounds. Under jockey Ismael Mosquiera, Im Aquick Corona put his head in front at the finish of the 300-yard dash, defeating stakes winners Night Leader and Maryland Magic for his sixth win in 13 career races. All six entrants in the race were in a virtual line at the finish.

The three wins by horses owned by Bogar pushed the owner to first place in the standings with 13 over Milena Kwiecien of Burlington. And Bogar has 15 training wins, second only to Jason Pascoe with 18.

Brian Bell’s trio of wins put him at 18 victories for the meeting as well, six ahead of JB Botello. Bell guided Tex Dynasty to victory in the featured third race, an allowance event, for Big Dog Racing Stable and trainer Carol McIntyre.

Racing continues at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, August 2 with the final of the Ontario-bred Futurity for 2-year-olds. First race post time is 1:30 p.m.

With files from Jennifer Morrison