Challenge


Express Your Desire Top Qualifier for John Deere Ajax Juvenile
Express Your Desire, ockey Neil Husbands, setting the fastest time for the John Deere Ajax Juvenile Challenge.

© Clive Cohen
Express Your Desire Top Qualifier for John Deere Ajax Juvenile

AJAX, ONT—JUNE 18, 2017—Express Your Desire, broke in under jockey Neil Husbands in his first career start Sunday before rolling to a one-length win and the top qualifying time for the John Deere Ajax Juvenile Challenge at Ajax Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from two trial races for Challenge Enrolled 2-year-olds, will return to the Ontario Canada racetrack on Sunday, July 9th to vie for the winner's share of $20,000-added purse going 350 yards.

Also on the line is a starting spot for the Ajax Juvenile winner in the $130,000 Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) October 14th during the Bank of America Challenge Championships at Prairie Meadows next fall.

Had To Be Ivory (#1) defeating Diane Dynamite in the opening trial on Sunday. © Clive Cohen
Racing for Jaime and Carol Robertson, Express Your Desire completed his 350-yard task in :18.110 seconds, over a sloppy racetrack and into a 16-mph crosswind, to record the top qualifying mark.

Carol Robertson bred the Desirio gelding in Ontario from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Midnight Express B. Bryn Robertson conditions the 1-for-1 winner who picked up $3,342(US) for the effort.

Express Your Desire is the fifth fastest qualifier for champion Desirio in 2017. The Texas-based son of Strawfly Special has also sired the fastest qualifier to the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity(G1), $273,325 Firecracker Futurity(G2), $167,600 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity and the $80,000-est. Four Corners Futurity since May 1st.

Had To Be Ivory, another Jamie and Carol Robertson homebred, won the opening trial to get the second fastest time of :18.140 seconds. Ridden by jockey Tony Phillips the son of multiple stakes sire Ivory James was bumped at the start but showed late speed to run down Diane Dynamite by a nose at the wire.

Also trained by Bryn Robertson, the bay gelding, out of Had To Be Fandango by Hadtobenuts, was making his career debut and earned $3,342(US) for the effort.

Trainer Jason Pascoe saddled four qualifiers including 4th fastest Silky Senator, 5th fastest Carneros, 9th fastest Azoomin Fury and 10th qualifier Island Vodka.

For the complete list of John Deere Ajax Juvenile qualifiers, their times, sires, dams, owners. Breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.