AJAX, ONT—MAY 20, 2018—A pair of multiple stakes winners battled from gate-to-wire Sunday afternoon at Ajax Downs to garner the top two qualifying times for the Picov Maturity.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Ajax Downs on Sunday, June 3 to vie for the winner's share of a $50,000-added purse going 300 yards.

Two-time Ajax Downs Horse of the Year Country Boy 123 got up just before the wire to defeat Fiesty Icon by a neck in top qualifying time of :15.340 seconds, a 103 speed index into a 7 mph crosswind.

Saddled by Bryn Robertson, the 5-year-old son of AQHA Racing Champion Country Chicks Man races for owner Ruth Barbour. Country Boy 123 is the defending champion of the Picov Maturity, winning last race. He also picked up the All Canadian Classic Maturity and Alex Picov Memorial Championship last season.

Bred in Michigan by Carolyn Bay, Country Boy 123 has compiled a (20) 12-4-0 record and banked $184,095. He is out of the Dash Thru Traffic mare Very Dashin 123. Regular rider Cory Spataro was up.

Runner-up Fiesty Icon held on to the second fastest time of :15.410, a 100 speed index. Owned-and-trained by Richard Kennedy, the Ontario-bred son of Sugarman Perry was ridden by Chelsey Willick.

Out of the Special Effort mare Fiesty Spirit, Fiesty Icon has won 11 of 26 career starts and earned nearly $155,000.

Countrys Comin Bac posted a head win over Alakazaam in the first trial to get the third fastest clocking of :15.600, a 93 speed index. Also a son of Country Chicks Man, the chestnut gelding races for owner-trainer Ralph Pearson and was ridden by Ramiro Castillo.

The 5-year-old stakes-placed gelding from the Spash Bac mare Bac To Center has earned $77,399 on seven wins in 19 starts.

Country Chicks Man was the only sire with multiple qualifiers, also getting 7th fastest Hickerson into the June 6 final.

For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

All the Ajax Downs events can be found at ajaxdowns.com.

Editor's note: A photo of the fastest qualifier will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.