First race post time Wednesday is 12:55 p.m.
AJAX DOWNS, MONDAY JUNE 22, 2020 - Six times they met in 2019 and each beat the other on three occasions and on Wednesday, June 24 the grand old gelding FIESTY ICON and tough grey mare GHOST PINES will square off in yet another matchup. It will be the first start of 2020 for the two Ontario-sired, Ontario-bred speedsters who will take to the track in race 5 at 300 yards on the third day of the Ajax Downs meeting.
Fiesty Icon, a 17-time career winner, was Ontario's Horse of the Year in 2015 and 2019 High Point Older Male and has been a gem of consistency for owner and trainer Rick Kennedy of Mount Albert, ON. Now 8-years-old, Fiesty Icon won four of eight starts last season including the Ontario Sires Maturity, edging Ghost Pines by a neck. Ed Walton is his regular rider.
James Bogar of Cameron, ON privately purchased Ghost Pines before her 2019 season and watched her win three of nine starts, one of those a victory over her arch rival in June at the 300-yard distance.
Trained by Barry Wood of Port Perry, Ghost Pines is now 6-years-old with eight career wins in 21 starts. She has a new rider on Wednesday as 2019 Champion Jockey Tony Phillips gets the call.
There is a plethora of top horses at Ajax Downs this year and the June 24 card of racing also marks the return of SHAKE IT TWICE, one of last year's top 3-year-old fillies. Winner of the Ontario Sires Derby, Shake It Twice signaled she's ready for action with a blazing workout on June 7 for owner and trainer Chantelle Bourgeois of Enniskillen. She competes in race 6 with Cassandra Jeschke on board.
First race post time Wednesday is 12:55 p.m. You can watch races and replays at http://www.ajaxdowns.com and easily wager on the races through http://www.hpibet.com.
Currently there are no spectators permitted at racetracks in Ontario due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the hope is that later in the summer, tracks can begin to bring in fans.
Don't forget to follow Quarter Horse racing on our Twitter and Instagram feeds, @AjaxDowns.
To get involved in owning a share of your own Quarter Horse, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at http://www.qrooi.com.
(Photo - FIESTY ICON edges Ghost Pines in one of their 6 meetings in 2019. They split decisions last year and meet up in their 2020 season debuts June 24 at Ajax Downs - New Image Media Photo)
Ajax Downs Press Release - June 22nd, 2020