Fan Appreciation Day, Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity Sunday at Ajax Downs

Ajax Downs will say a big thank you to all of its fans of Quarter Horse racing this Sunday with its annual Fan Appreciation Day at the track. There will be giveaways throughout the afternoon and fans will also receive an Ajax Downs insulated cup with the purchase of a track program.

There is also a strong, eight-race card on Sunday highlighted by the 11th running of the $40,860 Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity for 4-year-olds and upward at 330 yards. The Maturity is race eight and first race post time is 12:55 p.m.

The Maturity drew an overflow field with 11 horses entered, leaving one, Summers Grace, currently on the also eligible list. Summers Grace will draw into the field if there is an early scratch.

Last year’s Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity winner, Sugarmans Delight, is back to try for a repeat for owner and trainer Joe Tavares. The venerable gelding is also on a winning streak with two consecutive wins under his regular rider Ed Walton. A 16-time career winner, Sugarmans Delight drew the rail post.

Scott Reid and John Wilson’s Night Leader, a stakes winner as a 3-year-old in 2022, seeks his first victory of this season and the 4-year-old came close to winning his most recent dash on July 26 when second by a neck to Im Aquick Corona, who is also in the Maturity field. Night Leader, trained by Reid, will be ridden by Carly Furlonger and the pair will start from post 3. Im Aquick Corona (post 5) has won 6 of his 14 career races and this is his first stakes race attempt. Owned, bred and trained by James Bogar, the 4-year-old will be ridden by Ismael Mosquiera.

The mare Night Fishn (post 6) was third in this race a year ago for owner/breeder Mary Schrama and trainer Dan Giles. An 11-time career winner, Night Fishn has a win and two seconds in her three outings in 2023. She will be ridden by Ramiro Castillo. Jess Carolinas Award will take support as the Craig Spada-owned 6-year-old has won twice this season including an allowance score on August 16 when he earned a strong 97 speed index. Lauren Spada trains Jess Carolinas Award and Alexis Sanchez will ride the gelding from post 8.

Fans can watch and wager on the Sunday card from the trackside picnic tables or through www.HPIBET.com. For a free pocket program and more information on racing and events at Ajax Downs, visit the website, www.ajaxdowns.com.

FIELD FOR THE 11TH ONTARIO SIRES STAKES MATURITY

Purse $40,860; 330 yards, 8th race, Sept. 3, Ajax Downs

PP  Horse                       Jockey     Trainer
1 Sugarmans Delight         E Walton           J Tavares
2 Momsextravagantheart C Jeschke         C Bourgeois
3 Night Leader                   C Furlonger      S Reid
4 Hanover Hill Theresa   B Bell                  S Reid
5 Im Aquick Corona         I E Mosqueira   J Bogar
6 Night Fishn                    R S Castillo        D Giles
7 First Cold Wave            J B Botello          J Pascoe
8 Jess Carolinas Award  A Sanchez           L Spada
9 Rapter                             C Kerr                 S Reid
10 Shaken                          T Phillips           C Bourgeois
11 (AE) Summers Grace  C Jeschke       C Bourgeois

With files from Jennifer Morrison