Lights Dynasty and jockey Cristian Benitez post the fastest qualifying time for the $30,000-added Open Derby during Wednesday’s trial heats at Ajax Downs.

© New Image Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

AJAX, ON–MAY 6, 2026– Three trial heats were contested Wednesday at Ajax Downs for the $30,000-added Open Derby, with the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the May 20 final. The race is restricted to three-year-olds sprinting 300 yards.

Leading the qualifiers was Lights Dynasty, who posted the fastest time of the afternoon in the third and final trial under jockey Cristian Benitez. The colt broke sharply and was “never in doubt” according to the chart notes, drawing off to win by 2 ¼ lengths while stopping the clock in :15.929 seconds and earning an 82 speed index.

Bred by Andy Knight, 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 ($150,828), while the female family also traces to stakes winner Super Calidocious ($31,877).

The colt entered the trials off a productive juvenile campaign that included a runner-up finish in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity. A $13,000 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale graduate, Lights Dynasty now sports a record of 3-2-1-0.

Joe Tavares dominated the qualifying heats, owning and training both the fastest and second-fastest qualifiers while advancing four runners overall to the final.

Second-fastest qualifier Open A New Corona captured the second trial under J.B. Botello in a game effort, narrowly defeating Copilot by a nose while posting a :15.943 clocking and an 81 speed index. The filly earned her first career victory from three starts.

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 the stakes-winning One Fabulous Eagle mare On A New Note ($179,504), a half-sister to stakes winner Corona Toast ($254,786). The female family traces back to champions Sixy Chick ($751,284) and Gotta Get ($972,834).

Third-fastest qualifier Copilot closed strongly in the second trial to finish second after being “bumped mid stretch by winner” according to chart notes. The gelding stopped the clock in :15.949 seconds while also earning an 81 speed index.

The gelding was bred by Double A Ranch, owned by John S. Wilson, trained by Scott Reid, and ridden by D. I. Benitez. A $9,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate, Copilot is sired by graded stakes winner Paint My Pilot and is out of the winning Mr Jess Perry mare My Lady Jessie. His second dam is graded stakes winner My Lady First ($526,933). Copilot now carries a record of 3-1-1-0.

Also winning a trial was Lil Mz Win, who took the opening heat by 2 ½ lengths under Helen Marie Vanek for owner John S. Wilson and trainer Scott Reid. The filly stopped the timer in :16.017 seconds while earning a 79 speed index.

The Open Derby final is scheduled for May 20 at Ajax Downs.

View full list of qualifiers HERE.

*Photo will be posted when it becomes available.

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