AJAX, ONT—SEPTEMBER 21, 2020—It was a day of unprecedented achievements at Ajax Downs on Monday the 16th day of the 2020 Quarter Horse racing meeting.

Jockey Cory Spataro, 36, of Innisfil, ON rode five straight winners on the nine-race card, a feat that no one could remember occurring since the new track opened in 2009. Three of his winners were for trainer Craig Spada of Ridegway and the other two for owner Rick Crispi and trainer Tom Dunlap.

Spataro's wonderful winning streak began in race 2 aboard Jess a Sweet Surprize (Spada) followed by Belldacious (Race 3, Dunlap), Spitfire Stoli (Race 4, Spada, owner Erin Chrisman), You Zee Me Now (Race 5, owned by Spada and daughter Lauren) and Wavin Bac Atya (race 6, Dunlap, video below).

"I think all the stars just aligned for me today," said Spataro. "Maybe it was my energy today. All the horses are just running for me today and leaving the gate well. I'm grateful."

Spataro's big day was getting him closer to leading rider Ed Walton on the jockey standings but then Walton won races 7, 8 and 9. Walton has 30 wins to Spataro's 23 with five racing days left in the season.

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Canada's richest Quarter Horse Country Boy123 won the day's featured event, a $13,000 allowance race, for his fifth straight win of 2020 and his 27th win in 41 career starts.

The three-time Horse of the Year was honoured following his handy half-length win by the track for surpassing $500,000 in career earnings making him the all-time leading Canadian-based Quarter Horse by money won.

Owned and trained by Ruth Barbour of Hillsburgh, who bought the big bay 7-year-old for $7,200 (US) at an Oklahoma yearling sale six years ago, and ridden by Ed Walton, Country Boy 123 will try for a fourth Alex Picov Memorial Championship on Oct. 12.

Next week (Sept. 28) the Ajax Downs card will include the final of the $50,000 Picov Derby and the $40,000 Ontario Bred Maturity. Post time is 12:55 p.m.

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Ajax Downs continues to hold live racing behind closed doors due to the COIV-19 pandemic but all the races are live-streamed at ajaxdowns.com and fans can open an account to watch and wager on the afternoon at Horseplayer Interactive, hpibet.com.

Be sure to follow the Quarter Horses @AjaxDowns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.