AJAX, ONT—OCTOBER 22, 2020—The $54,650 final of the Ontario Sired Stakes Derby for 3-year-olds, race 9, headlines a big 11-race card at Ajax Downs, Monday, October 26, the final race day of the 2020 season.

There is a slightly earlier post time for race 1 of 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

The Ontario Sired Stakes Derby has a competitive field of the 10 fastest qualifiers from the Oct. 12 Trials set to race 350-yards. There is not much separating the two Trial winners as both JESS CAROLINAS AWARD, owned by Rick Crispi of Guelph, and Chantelle Bourgeois' SHAKEN, posted 84 speed index ratings for their narrow victories.

Jess Carolinas Award, bred by Crispi and trained by Tom Dunlap. edged Rowdy and Bodacious in his Trial victory with a late surge, his second win of the season. Crispi is currently tied for leading owner by wins with 12 heading into the final day. Cory Spataro rides Jess Carolinas Award from post 3.

Shaken, who is also trained and was bred by Bourgeois of Enniskillen, led all the way in his Trial win, holding off a late bid by the filly Princess Leia, owned by Marie Broadstock of Nestleton. Cassandra Jeschke rides Shaken and they will break from post 5.

Other contenders in the Derby include the fleet Pretty Runaway, whose owner James Bogar also has 12 wins on the season and Picov Cattle Company's Hanover Hill Chalsee, ridden by the meet's leading jockey Ed Walton.

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

1. Jess Gunnin - L Desouza - P Burne, 12/1
2. Rowdy and Bodacious - H Vanek - S Reid, 8/1
3. Jess Carolinas Award - C Spataro T D Dunlap, 10/1
4. A Lone Hand - B Bell - B Wood, 8/1
5. Shaken - C Jeschke - C Bourgeois,, 7/2
6. Pretty Runaway - T Phillips - B Wood 4/1
7. Princesss Leia - R S Castillo - B Broadstock 6/1
8. Shock the Clocker - C Jeschke - D Reid, 10/1
9. Hanover Hill Chalsee - E Walton - R W Kennedy, 3/1
10. Down In Carolina - Mosqueira - C McIntyre, 15/1

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The co-feature is race 10, the $22,350 QROOI Distance Series #3 at 440 yards. FIESTY ICON who curated an upset of champion Country Boy 123 in the $54,000 Alex Picov Memorial Championship Oct. 12 is favoured for owner and trainer Rick Kennedy of Mount Albert. The 8-year-old gelding has won 20 of his 49 races and meets Distance Series #1 winner Spy for the Senate.

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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.