AJAX, ONT—OCTOBER 8, 2020—Canada's richest Quarter Horse Country Boy 123 goes after a fourth consecutive Alex Picov Memorial Championship, Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 12 at Ajax Downs.

The popular 7-year-old Country Chicks Man gelding comes into the 47th running of the $50,000 Championship on a five-race winning streak in 2020 and recently went over the $500,000 mark in career earnings from 27 wins in 41 career races.

A three-time Horse of the Year, Country Boy 123 will start from post position three in the eight-horse field that will race 440 yards. Owned by Ruth Barbour of Hillsburgh, ON, Country Boy 123 has his regular rider Ed Walton on board for what will be the dark bay's final start at Ajax Downs of the season.

Leading trainer Jason Pascoe sends out two runners in the Championship. Maryland Magic, third in this race to Country Boy in 2019, wil be ridden by Helen Vanek while, Spy For The Senate, coming off his seventh career win, will have Ismael Mosquiera riding. Both horses are owned by Milena Kwiecien of Burlington.

Ralph Pearson's Countrys Comin Bac, fresh off a sizzling win in the Ontario Bred Maturity on Sept. 28 at 400 yards, will be ridden by Cassandra Jeschke for trainer Don Reid. The complete field for the Championship is listed below.

RACE 8 POST TIME - 4:04 PM (EDT)
ALEX PICOV MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Purse $50,000. For Three Year Olds & Upward
Four Hundred And Forty Yards.

The complete lineup, in post-position order including jockey and trainer:

1. Shes Sizzling (ON) - R Knowles - R E Lehtinen
2. Jess a Deal (TX) - R R S Castillo - R B Broadstock
3. Country Boy 123 (MI) - R E Walton - R R Barbour
4. Maryland Magic (MD) - R H M Vanek - R J Pascoe
5. Tempting First Dash (TX) - R J Scott - R S Reid
6. Countrys Comin Bac (ON) - R C Jeschke - R D Reid
7. Spy for the Senate (OK) - R I Mosqueira - R J Pascoe
8. Fiesty Icon (ON) - R T Phillips - R R W Kennedy

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Monday's racing also includes two Time Trials for the Ontario Sired Derby for 3-year-olds at 350- yards. The first Trial is led by Picov Cattle Company's Hanover Hill Chalsee, winner of the Ontario Bred Derby Sept. 2 while the wide open second Trial has a field of six including recent winner Shaken for Chantelle Bourgeois of Enniskillen.

First race post time Monday is 12:55 p.m.

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Ajax Downs continues to hold live racing behind closed doors due to the COIV-19 pandemic but all the races are live-streamed at ajaxdowns.com and fans can open an account to watch and wager on the afternoon at Horseplayer Interactive, hpibet.com.

Be sure to follow the Quarter Horses @AjaxDowns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.

The First Line Racing Syndicate, developed by the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc. allows for new owners to affordably get involved in horse ownership. Contact them for opportunities for the 2021 racing season at qrooi.com.