Two-Year-Old Showdown On Ajax Downs Closing Day

Ajax Downs' record-breaking 2026 Quarter Horse season comes to a close on Wednesday, October 21, with the final day of the meeting headlined by the $59,805 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, the top race in the country for 2-year-olds. The nine-race card gets underway at 12:55 p.m.

Fans wagering on Ajax Downs on Wednesday through Horseplayer Interactive (www.HPI.com) will receive 3 percent cash back on all eligible wagering over $40.

Numerous wagering records were set during Ajax Downs' 22-day meeting, including single race handle and single day handle. Heading into the last day, wagering on Quarter Horse racing at the fan-friendly track is up about 59 percent over 2025.

The Picov Futurity at 400 yards has a field of 10 juveniles that competed in Trials on September 30. An intriguing aspect of the Trials is that one of those dashes produced a dead-heat to win between Ontario-bred fillies Impeerial Miracle and Baref Hurricante Rush. Both fillies were winning for the first time in their career.

Imperial Miracle is a homebred for James Bogar of Cameron, ON, currently the leading Quarter Horse breeder at Ajax Downs with 16 wins from 69 starts. Imperial Miracle furnished a strong late run in her Trial under jockey Tony Phillips to land on even terms with speedy rival Baref Hurricane Rush, owned by Earl Foster and ridden by Corry Beland.

The pair of fillies clocked a slightly faster time, 20.633, for their Trial than the undefeated Had To Be Valiant, who won the other Trial. Had to Be Valiant, owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson of Hillsburgh, was up to win by a nose in 20.758 with Ismael Mosqueira riding. The talented filly won the Ontario Bred Futurity in July and is three for three in her career.

The Picov Futurity is race eight on the card.

For more information on how you can become a Quarter Horse owner, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario about the First Line Racing Syndicate at (905) 426-7050.

To read the latest news about racing at Ajax Downs, and stay in touch with the exciting events and handicapping contests held in our simulcast room throughout the winter, visit our website at www.ajaxdowns.com or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, @Ajaxdowns

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