Sassies Best, Had to Be Fabulous Headline QROOI Open Derby Final
By Jennifer Morrison
AJAX, ONT–MAY, 19, 2025–The stakes race season at Ajax Downs begins with a bang this Wednesday, May 21, with the $32,400 final of the QROOI Open Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses. Ten sophomores qualified for the 300-yard final following two Trials on May 7, and the girls hold the upper hand as seven of the finalists are fillies.
The two trial winners, both fillies, line up beside each other in the starting gate for the final, race seven on the exciting eight-race card.
Had To Be Fabulous was odds-on when she coasted to a 1 1/4 length win in her Trial for the successful Hillerin Farm team of Jaime and Carol Robertson and trainer Bryn Robertson.
The half-sister to Horse of the Year Had to Be Ivory was winning for the seventh time in eight career races, and she once again will be ridden by Ismael Mosquiera. Had to Be Fabulous starts from post position two.,
Sassies Best, a new face to Ajax Downs, won her Trial in slightly faster time (and 84 speed index compared to Had to Be Fabulous' 82) as she got clear of a multiple-horse-bumping incident that essentially left her alone on the lead.
Ridden by Christian Benitez for John Wilson of New Liskeard and trainer Scott Reid, Sassies Best, a Texas-bred by top sire Kiss My Hocks, was breaking her maiden that day, her first race locally and first start since October. She lines up in post position three.
Possible upsetters in the field include stretch-running Peighntmeadiamond, an Ontario-sired and bred gelding owned by Richard Wincikaby of Alliston, trained by Joe Tavares.
Peighntmeadiamond had a slow start behind Had to Be Fabulous and lost all chance, but the son of Peighnt Your Fate only missed by a nose to that filly in the prestigious Alex Picov Futurity last fall. Brian Bell will ride from post one.
Paint The Meun and Kissin Ella had trouble when third and fourth, respectively, behind Sassie Best in the faster Trial, but they can be contenders.
The first race post time on May 21 is 1:45 p.m., and the Open Derby final is set at 4:27 p.m.
Admission and parking are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on our exciting race trackside, up close to the action at our picnic tables, visit the expansive simulcast room, or wager through www.HPIBet.com.
For more information, entries, and how to reserve the VIP room for your group, visit www.ajaxdowns.com.
THE FIELD FOR THE 3RD QROOI OPEN DERBY
Post Horse Jockey Trainer Odds
1 Peighntmeadiamond B Bell J Tavares 10-1
2 Had to Be Fabulous I E Mosqueira B Robertson 3-1
3 Sassies Best C Benitez S Reid 7-2
4 Jjjohnnypopper N Desouza D G Stevenson 8-1
5 Kissin Ella A T Amador J Pascoe 12-1
6 Annies Best Card J B Botello J Pascoe 8-1
7 Paint the Meun C Jeschke J Tavares 4-1
8 Runaway Fate R Isaacs B Broadstock 10-1
9 Sweeet D B A Cheyne J Tavares 15-1
10 Flyin Lady D I Benitez S Reid 6-1
All Ajax Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.
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