Copilot and jockey D. I. Benitez pull away late to win the $23,867 QROOI Open Derby at Ajax Downs on May 20.

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

AJAX, ON–MAY 20, 2026– AJAX, ON–May 20, 2026— Third fastest qualifier Copilot delivered a sharp performance Wednesday afternoon to capture the $23,867 QROOI Open Derby at Ajax Downs, earning the first stakes victory of his career in the 300-yard final.

Ridden by D. I. Benitez, the gelding broke well and quickly took command before drawing clear late to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Open A New Corona. Copilot stopped the timer in :15.842 over a fast racing surface while earning a speed index of 84.

The sorrel gelding was bred by Double A Ranch, owned by John S. Wilson, and trained by Scott Reid. A $9,000 graduate of the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale, Copilot is sired by graded stakes winner Paint My Pilot and is out of the winning My Lady Jessie mare My Lady Jessie.

His second dam is graded stakes winner My Lady First, who earned $526,933 during her career. With the winner’s share of $9,548, Copilot improved his record to 4-2-1-0 with earnings of $19,332.

Second fastest qualifier Open A New Corona and jockey J. Botello finished second after chasing the winner throughout the running. The gelding completed the distance in :16.035 while finishing a nose ahead of Lights Dynasty.

Bred by Brian L. Gunder, the $6,500 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate is sired by champion Open Me A Corona and is out of stakes winner On A New Note, a daughter of One Fabulous Eagle who earned $179,504 on the track.

The female family also includes stakes winner Corona Toast as well as champions Sixy Chick and Gotta Get. Open A New Corona now owns a 4-1-1-0 record with earnings of $8,134.

Fastest qualifier Lights Dynasty closed late under Cristian Benitez to finish third, another nose behind the runner-up. The colt covered the 300 yards in :16.039.

Bred by Andy Knight and owned and trained by Joe Tavares, Lights Dynasty is sired by All American Futurity (G1) runner-up The Marfa Lights and is out of the winning FDD Dynasty mare Conspicuous Dynasty.

He is a half-brother to stakes winner Proximity, while the female family also traces to stakes winner Super Calidocious.

A $13,000 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale graduate, Lights Dynasty entered the derby off a runner-up effort in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity. He now sports a record of 4-2-1-1 with earnings of $16,699.

Ariche finished fourth after closing ground late and was followed by Aspen T, Lil Mz Win, Especially Tempting, and Lil Phyler. Mi Reina Janette and Thirty Ought Six were scratched.

*Photo will be posted when available. 

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