Nine-year-old Jess a Deal reaches out for the finish in the Battle of the Breeds.

© New Image Media

AJAX DOWNS–MAY 29, 2025–The queen of the Battle Of The Breeds races, Jess A Deal, has won another race against her Thoroughbred counterparts. The stocky 9-year-old mare, owned by Marie Broadstock and Picov Cattle Company, held off Bruno Schickedanz's Determined Love to win the first Battle of the Breeds race of 2025 on May 28.

The Battle of the Breeds races are the only Ajax Downs event around a turn, and they match Quarter Horses against Thoroughbreds.

With Ramiro Castillo on board, Jess a Deal, trained by Bob Broadstock, broke best from the gate and was briefly challenged by her stablemate Ice Cream Cartel to the turn. Determined Love and jockey Ismael Mosqueira were squeezed back at the start and moved three wide around the turn but came up two lengths short of the winner.

Schickedanz is one of North America's leading Thoroughbred owners, and Determined Love was his first starter at Ajax Downs.

The time was 42.178, for a 76 speed index. Th

This was the fourth Battle of the Breeds win for Jess a Deal. The daughter of Dealagame out of Jess Marcy by Mr Jess Perry, won three last year. Since the beginning of 2024, the Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds are tied 4 - 4 for victories in the race.

"When she leaves the gate, she just relaxes," said Castillo. "I tried to go slow the first 600 yards, and I was scared of Bruno's horse. She's just amazing."

Five-time leading jockey Brian Bell rang in a triple on Wednesday to get within four victories of 800 Quarter Horse wins in Canada. Bell won two for trainer Joe Tavares - Rr Illbeurhucklebery and Ivy League Sugarbaby - and scored on Amber Archibald's Gin Express.

The featured race of the day was won by Fort Erie-based Bodhi, who doubles as a track pony at the border oval. Owned and trained by Nick Mileni, Jr, Bodhi works with Thoroughbreds in morning training and races occasionally at Ajax with Helen Vanek riding. Making his first start since last year, Bodhi was an easy winner in the 300-yard dash over stakes winner Hawkin the Straw.

Racing continues at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, June 4, with the Trials for the Unclassified Stakes. First race post time is 1:45 p.m.

Bet on the Ajax Downs races at the track or on www.HPIBet.com. 

Parking and admission are always free at Ajax Downs, and you can watch the racing up close from the many picnic tables at the trackside.

New from Ajax Downs is the opportunity to reserve tables on the apron or Level One for $25.00. The popular VIP room overlooking the track can be reserved on racing days by contacting the track at www.ajaxdowns.com or (905) 686-8001.

To find out more about joining the popular First Line Racing Syndicate and owning a share in a Quarter Horse, call the QROOI at (905) 426-7050.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.