Queen Charlotte (#6), the 2024 Horse of the Year, tries for her second Princess Maturity on August 12 at Ajax Downs.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media

By Jennifer Morrison, Ajax Downs

AJAX, ONT–AUGUST 11 2026–Queen Charlotte and Relentless Betty, the half-sisters who finished first and second in the 2025 Princess Maturity at Ajax Downs, are renewing their family rivalry on Wednesday, August 12, in this year's edition of the $29,430 Maturity.

The Princess Maturity is one of eight Quarter Horse races carded for Wednesday, and the first race post time is 3:30 p.m. (EDT).

Owner and breeder James Bogar, from Cameron, ON, is hoping that Queen Charlotte, the 2024 Horse of the Year, can duplicate her win in the 400-yard race. Last year she came off a vacation to win the Maturity by a length over Relentless Betty. This season, the bay mare has just one second place finish in four races.

"Queen Charlotte is feeling good and training well," said Bogar. "Her last three races she has been sandwiched at the start. Now that she has an outside post, maybe she can get her stride going. She loves the 400-yard distance too."

Cassandra Jeschke will ride Queen Charlotte for the first time and the pair drew post eight in the eight-horse field.

Relentless Betty, like 'Charlotte', is a daughter of the champion mare Leanintoit, and she won six races in 2025 but has lost her last two dashes by inches. Tony Phillips is her regular rider and they will break from post five.

The 2025 Horse of the Year Had To Be Fabulous will start from the rail post as she seeks to get back on the winning track. The Bryn Robertson-trained filly won the Norman Picov Maturity on June 21 but was third in the Ontario Bred Maturity in her most recent start. Ismael Mosqueira is her regular rider.

Marie Broadstock's Jess A Deal, who has spent most of the last couple of seasons racing in Battle of the Breeds dashes around a turn, was third behind the Bogar pair in last year's Princess Maturity and could better that placing on Wednesday.

Enjoy trackside picnic tables and barbecue at Ajax Downs on race day or watch and wager through www.HPIBet.com. For more information on race dates and events, check out our website at www.ajaxdowns.com. For more information on how to buy into a Quarter Horse, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at (905) 426-7050.

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

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