Racing


Home To Vegas Stays Perfect, Sets Top Mark in Picov Memorial Futurity Trials
Undefeated Home To Vegas setting the fastest time for the $90,000-est. Alex Picov Memorial Futurity Monday afternoon at Ajax Downs.

© Clive Cohen
Home To Vegas Stays Perfect, Sets Top Mark in Picov Memorial Futurity Trials

AJAX, ONT—SEPTEMBER 19, 2016—Ontario Sires' Stakes Futurity winner Home To Vegas kept his record a perfect 4-for-4 after winning the last of three trials to the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity Monday afternoon at Ajax Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the Ontario racetrack on Monday, October 10th to vie for the winner's share of a $90,000-est. purse going 400 yards.

Ridden by jockey Tony Phillips, Home To Vegas went wire-to-wire while defeating Deception North by half-a-length to post the top qualifying mark of :20.480 seconds into a 4 mph crosswind.

Bob Broadstock conditions the stakes winning son of Down Home Dash for owners Marie Broadstock and Brian Samis. Gayle Sommer, DVM bred the bay gelding in Ontario from the Gold Medal Dash mare Cash Into Vega.

The undefeated Home To Vegas has earned $32,629 in his four career starts.

Hickerson (#1) was named the winner in the second trial after Zoxtobeyou (#8) was dq'd for interference.
© Clive Cohen
Six of the ten qualifiers came from the final trial, including the top four. The aforementioned Deception North held the 2nd fastest time of :20.580 seconds.

Joe Tavares trains the Fire Finder gelding for owner Picov Cattle Co. Gary and Marlene McNichol bred Deception North from the Dashing Val mare Snaptooit. He has a 0-1-1 record in three starts this season.

Hickerson got his second win in four starts for owners Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre after Zoxtobeyou was disqualified for interference and placed last. Ridden by Brian Bell and trained by Don Reid the Country Chicks Man gelding posted the 5th fastest time of :20.680 seconds. Guylaine Paquin bred Hickerson in Ontario from the Holland Ease mare Easily Holland.

Denali Teller Off, under jockey Ramiro Castillo, easily wins the first of three trials. © Clive Cohen
Oklahoma-bred Denali Teller Off won the first trial by half-a-length under a confident ride from jockey Ramiro Castillo to get the 7th fastest time of :20.740 seconds. Jason Pascoe conditions the stakes-placed son of Louisiana Senator for owner Milena Kwiecien.

Bred by Charles Robinson, from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Like Beduino, Denali Teller Off was third in the John Deere Ajax Juvenile Challenge in July. He has compiled a (5) 2-0-3 record and banked $10,264 this season.

For the complete list of Alex Picov Memorial Futurity finalists, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.