Eye Live For Candy, under jockey Ismael Mosqueira, drives to victory in the $40,645(US) Princess Derby at Ajax Downs Sunday afternoon.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media

AJAX, ONT–JUNE 19, 2022–Fastest qualifier Eye Live For Candy returned to Ajax Downs Sunday posting an impressive 1-1/2 length win in the $40,645(US) Princess Derby for 3-year-old fillies.

Under jockey Ismael Mosqueira, Eye Live For Candy broke alertly and led wire-to-wire while stopping the clock in :18.021 seconds, an 89 speed index into a 17 mph headwind. It was the third career win for the Wyoming-bred daughter of leading second-crop sire A Revenant.

"She gets very impatient sometimes," said Mosquiera, Ajax Downs' leading rider. "I just had to make her very relaxed and we had drawn a very nice post position (9). She wasn't in the gate very long and when we got out of the gate and she started opening up, I said 'wow'."

Racing for owner Milena Kwiecien and trained by Jason Pascoe the brown filly wintered in Oklahoma making three starts at Remington Park before shipping to Ontario where she set the fastest qualifying time in the Princess Derby trials on June 1.

"I thought she was going to be a better 3-year-old this year, she was a little immature as a 2-year-old," said Pascoe, currently the leading trainer at Ajax Downs. 

Klay Hinck bred Eye Live For Candy from the Eyesa Special mare Eyesa Candy Maker. Today's $16,259(US) winner's purse boosted her lifetime earnings to $55,184. She was also second in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity and a finalist in the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity as a 2-year-old.

Runner-up Jtc Lil Moonbar picked up $8,130(US) for her second-place effort. Jockey Ramiro Castillo piloted the daughter of Jess Twice Cash for owner-trainer Don Reid. Bred in Oklahoma by Ty Remington, the bay filly was making only her fourth career start. Out of the First To Shine mare Shinin Moonbar, Jtc Lil Moonbar has earned $11,419.

The winning connections of Eye Live For Candy accept the Princess Derby stakes trophy Sunday afternoon Ajax Downs. © Clive Cohen / New Image Media

John Wilson's Oh My Gawd, an Ontario-bred daughter of world champion Wave Carver, finished a neck back in third to earn $4,065(US). Trainer Scott Reid named jockey Carly Furlonger to ride the sorrel filly out of Andaley Okey and Andalay Get. Bred by Ajax Old Boys and Ralph Pearson, Oh My Gawd has banked $18,066 in seven starts.

Sacred Heart, Sw Snowmagicallykool, Scarletts Cartel, On Pointe, Dawns Early Light, Dont Give Me Lip and Lrh Voodoo Runner completed the field.

The supporting feature on the Father's Day card was the first leg of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario (QROOI) Distance series and champion Had To Be Ivory strutted his stuff once again, winning the 400- yard dash under jockey Josh Scott by half a length in 19.959 for a 97 speed index (see related story).

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The next racing day at Ajax Downs is Wednesday, June 29, with a first race post time of 1:30 p.m. (EDT). Keep up to date on news and events from Ajax Downs by following us on social media @AjaxDowns and at www.ajaxdowns.com.