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County Boy 123 Earns Third Straight Horse of the Year Title
Ruth Barbour (blue) and partner Doug Jackson( second from left) with jockey Cory Spataro accept the Horse of the Year Trophy for Country Boy 123 from QROOI President Bob Broadstock (far left) and the QROOI's Monique McNamara.

© Courtesy QROOI
County Boy 123 Earns Third Straight Horse of the Year Title

AJAX, ONT—FEBRUARY 18, 2019—The class of 2018 in Quarter Horse racing in Ontario was honored Feb. 16 at Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Awards Banquet at Ajax Convention Centre.

Rod Phillips, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and MPP for Ajax spoke to a packed house about a bright future for Quarter Horse racing and was joined by Councilors Marilyn Crawford, Sterling Lee and Rob Tyler Morin.

For the third consecutive year, COUNTRY BOY 123 was named Ajax Downs' Horse of the Year as the now 6-year-old powerhouse went 7 for 7 in Ontario, winning three stakes races including the Alex Picov Memorial Championship. Owned and trained by Ruth Barbour of Hillsburgh, ON, Country Boy 123 set two track records during the season and was also named High Point Aged Male horse and Distance series Champion.

"It was such an exciting season, he really gave us his all," said Barbour, who bought Country Boy 123 for $7,200 (US) from an Oklahoma yearling sale five years ago. Barbour reported that Country Boy 123 is getting ready to gear up for another season.

Jockey Chelsey Willick won her first ever High Point Jockey title collecting 330 QROOI points from 26 wins in 176 mounts.

Perennial leading trainer Joe Tavares was once again High Point Trainer with 380 points and 31 wins while his wife Christine picked up another High Point Owner title with 282 points.

Ajax Downs will celebrate its 50th year of Quarter Horse racing in 2019 with plenty of special events. The season begins on Sunday, May 5, 2019.

A complete list of 2018 Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc. Award Winners are:

  • HIGH POINT JOCKEY – CHELSEY WILLICK
    330 Points
    26 wins $342,733
  • RUNNER-UP: CORY SPATARO
    325 points
    41 wins $446,026

  • HIGH POINT TRAINER - JOE TAVARES
    380 POINTS
    31 wins, $396,032
  • RUNNER-UP JASON PASCOE – 321 POINTS
    37 wins, $423,000

  • HIGH POINT OWNER/TRAINER
    CAROL MCINTYRE – 91 points
    47 – 7 -10 – 7 $86,000
  • RUNNER-UP
    Darlene Ballis-Hunderup - 76 points
    96 2-8-14

  • HIGH POINT OWNER
    CHRISTINE TAVARES
    282 POINTS
    157 STARTS 23-25-29 $288,000
  • RUNNER-UP
    MILENA KWIECIEN – 254 POINTS
    100 starts 22 wins, $306,000

  • HIGH POINT ONTARIO BREEDER
    CHRISTINE TAVARES – 196 points
    18 wins, $220,000
  • RUNNER-UP
    Heste Sport Inc. - 133 points 10 wins

  • HIGH POINT 2-YEAR-OLDS MALE
    SPY FOR THE SENATE (Louisiana Senator) – 28 points
    Won the Alex Picov Futurity, 3 wins in 5 Ajax starts, $54,000;
    Owner: Milena Kwicien/Trainer Jason Pascoe
  • RUNNER-UP
    Carlos The Second, owned and bred in Ontario by Heste Sport, 15 points; 2nd in the Ontario Sires Futurity; trained by Jason Pascoe

  • 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY
    STRIPPER DUST – (Louisiana Senator) 24 points
    Won Ajax Bonus Futurity, 2nd Alex Picov Futurity to Spy
    Owner: Milena Kwiecien. Trainer: Jason Pascoe
  • RUNNER-UP
    Shake It Twice (Look at Magics Form); homebred for Chantelle Bourgeois; 14 points, 3rd OS Futurity

  • 3-YEAR-OLD MALE
    CARNEROS – (Prospect to the The Top) 33 points 4 wins at Ajax, 2nd in the Picov Derby to Had to be Ivory/ - 33 points.
    Owner: Milena Kwiecien. Trainer Jason Pascoe

  • RUNNERS-UP
  • Had To Be Ivory - 25 points won 2 stakes in 4 starts including the Picov Derby. Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson, trained by Bryn Robertson
  • Bending Over (Ontario bred and sired) Junos Back; 25 points; winner and 8 placings in 12 starts for Christine Tavares and Joe Tavares
  • SW Hail To The King – 2 wins at Ajax: owned by Braynne Sheppard and Amelie Aubut; trained by Jason Pascoe

  • 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY
    AJ CHICK IN 15 – (Apollitical Jess) – 28 points; 3rd Picov Derby 2 wins.
    Owned Milena Kwiecien. Trainer Jason Pascoe (team includes Bryanne and Mario)

  • RUNNER-UP
    Wont Bac Down 24 points – Ontario homebred for Marko Naterer. Trained by Angelle Carter. 2 wins in 9 starts (First Down Straw)

  • AGED MALE
    COUNTRY BOY 123 (Country Chicks Man) - 47 points - 7 for 7 at home; Alex Picov Memorial, All Canadian and Picov Maturity; Owner/trainer Ruth Barbour – Cory Spataro

  • RUNNER-UP
    COUNTRYS COMIN BAC – Ralph Pearson owner/trainer; 2 wins and 2nd in the All Canadian and 3rd in the Alex Picov Memorial; bred by Marko Naterer – 30 points

  • AGED MARE
    FISHIN FOR A CORONA – 29 points, from 2 wins for Picov Cattle Co. And trainer Joe Tavares; wonderfully consistent

  • RUNNER-UP
    Night Fishn, homebred for Mary Schrama by Sugarman Perry; 23 points; 3 wins; won Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity; trained by Greg Watson

  • GEORGE EGERTON MEMORIAL AWARD
    JAYSON SLOANE

  • KEN MUCKLESTONE AWARD
    CAROL AND WAYNE PROCTOR