Racing


Fiesty Icon Powers to Gridiron Gallop Victory
Fiesty Icon (#8), under jockey Tony Phillips, gets his head in front of Maryland Magic (#6) and Sugarmans Delight (#1) in the $11,629 (US) Gridiron Gallop (not black type) Wednesday at Ajax Downs.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media
Fiesty Icon Powers to Gridiron Gallop Victory

AJAX, ONT—OCTOBER 20, 2021—Don't tell nine-year-old Fiesty Icon you can't teach an older horse new tricks.

Ajax Downs' reigning Quarter Horse of the Year won his first attempt at the $11,629(US) "Gridiron Gallop" (not black type), at the unique distance of just 110-yards on Wednesday, with an impressive finish.

The tall Ontario-bred gelding, owned and trained by Rick Kennedy, broke well from post position eight under jockey Tony Phillips and launched a powerful surge to grab the lead from favoured Maryland Magic to win by a head. Fiesty Icon sped the distance in 6.907 for a strong 99 speed index.

The gelding was clocked at 6.907 seconds while racing, a 99 speed index with a 10 mph tailwind.

"I know it was a much different distance for him today," said Phillips. "But he's got that big, long stride, he levels out and finds another kick."

Fiesty Icon, who was also Ajax Downs' Horse of the Year in 2015, won the Picov Maturity at 300-yards in July and the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity in August. He was coming off a fourth-place finish behind Had to Be Ivory in the Ontario Bred Maturity at 400 yards on Sept. 29.

Fiesty Icon paid $8.70 as the 3 to 1 third choice. It was the 22nd career win from 55 races in his illustrious career. His earnings stand at $392,986. The son of Ontario stallion Sugarman Perry was bred by Picov Cattle Company.

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A huge day of racing is on tap for next Wednesday, October 27, the penultimate racing day of the 2021 season with three stakes races and an Ontario Sires Stakes/Ajax Downs t-shirt giveaway (with program purchase).

The $100,000 final of the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds headlines an exciting card which will include the $50,000 Alex Picov Memorial Championship for older horses and the Ontario Sired Stakes Derby, worth $50,000, for 3-year-olds.

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Fans can register to attend the races by visiting ajaxdowns.com. Keep up to date on Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs by following us on social media, @AjaxDowns.

Be sure to check out ajaxdowns.com for race selections, live streaming, and a free pocket program on race days as well as the latest news. You can watch and wager on the Ajax card at Horseplayer Interactive, hpibet.com. Follow Ajax Downs on Twitter and Instagram @AjaxDowns.

If you would like information on how to get involved in owning a Quarter Horse or to join a syndicate, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at qrooi.com.

The races are streamed live on the Ajax Downs Facebook page and its new Youtube page YouTube page.