Streakinlilwagon, Perrier Special favourites in Picov Derby at Ajax Downs

The best 3-year-old Quarter Horses in Ontario will square off tomorrow in the $61,020 Picov Derby at Ajax Downs.

 The 400-yard event pits the 10 fastest sophomores from two Time Trials held three weeks ago, including Trial winners Streakinlilwagon and Perrier Special. The Derby is race 8 on a strong card of racing at the Ajax track.

Multiple stakes winner Streakinlilwagon, a bay filly bred in Oklahoma by GFR Equine Services of Jason Pascoe and Bryanne Langford of Pontypool, seeks her fourth straight win of 2021 and her ninth career victory. The top 2-year-old filly of 2020 won the $83,000 Canterbury Derby on Aug.11 and then returned to Ajax Downs to win her Picov Derby Trial with an 89-speed index.

Ridden for the first time that day by Ismael Mosquiera, the daughter of Fast Prize Jordan, was just up to defeat Twixt of Fate who had a stumbling beginning. She starts from post position seven and is the early favourite at 3-1.

The towering gelding Perrier Special won the second Picov Derby Trial with a slightly faster 91-speed index. Owned and bred in Ontario by Erik and Joyce Lehtinen, Perrier Special led throughout his Trial and won by three-quarters of a length under Tony Phillips over a fast closing Jm Southern Express, also owned by Pascoe. Perrier Special is listed at 7-2.

Ontario-bred Twixt of Fate, owned by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Michelle Woodley, had been second in the Ontario Bred Derby in his previous race. He will be ridden for the first time by Brian Bell on Wednesday and is 6-1 in the early line.

Caroll and Jaime Robertson’s Had to Be Relentless, a half brother to 2018 Picov Derby winner Had to Be Ivory, will try to better his third-place finish behind Streakinlilwagon and Twixt of Fate and he starts from post two at 8-1 under Josh Scott

Princess Derby winner Jessaprimadonna, 10-1,  is one of three entrants for trainer Craig Spada. The Louisiana-bred filly finished third to Perrier Special in the second Trial. Carly Furlonger will ride.

Also in the field is JM Southern Express at 4-1, Kk Blue Carte at 8-1, Americas Rocket Man at 10-1 and longshots Rosie Perry (12-1) and Sr Blue Hawk (15-1).

First race post time on Wednesday is 12:55 p.m. To pre-register to attend the day of racing, go to www.ajaxdowns.com.

Photo New Image Media