The undefeated 2-year-old filly HAD TO BE FABULOUS is one of 14 juveniles entered in two Trials for the Ontario Bred Futurity, July 17.

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AJAX, ONT–JULY 15, 2024–Two trials for the $55,000 Ontario Bred Futurity plus the $39,960 Ontario Bred Maturity, featuring the great Had to Be Ivory, highlight an action-packed card of racing at Ajax Downs this Wednesday, July 17.

The first race post time for the eight-race card is 1:30 p.m.

Fans get a double dose of racing at Ajax Downs this week. This Sunday, July 21, is the popular Craft Beer and Cider Day, featuring giveaways, samples, and live music by the popular band Two for the Show. Post time on July 21 is 12:55 p.m.

Fourteen Ontario-bred 2-year-old Quarter Horses will contest the Ontario Bred Futurity trials re-scheduled from July 10 when heavy rain canceled racing at Ajax Downs. The ten fastest qualifiers will advance to the final on July 31.

With two stakes races for juveniles already in the books in 2024, fans have been treated to some exciting stars of the future. The undefeated filly Had To Be Fabulous, a half-sister to Had to Be Ivory was an easy winner of the QROOI Bonus Futurity, and she met six rivals from post 6 in the first trial, race 2, at 300 yards.

Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Roberston, Had to Be Fabulous is two for two in her young career. She defeated Richard Wincikaby's Fate Zoomin in , who returned to win the Stallion Auction Futurity on June 26. Josh Scott rides Had to Be Fabulous.

Fate Zoomin is in post 2 in the second trial race 3 with Christian Benitez aboard. A filly by Wincikaby's young stallion Peighnt Your Fate, Fate Zoomin won the Stallion Futurity by a neck over the well-regarded gelding Last Cold Bud, owned by Belinda Taggart. Fate Zoomin was the first winner for trainer John McInerney, who rode nearly 500 winners as a jockey at Ajax/Picov Downs.

Last Cold Bud, a half-brother to One Kool Wave, one of the great horses in Ajax Downs history, has JB Botello up. They will start from post 7.

Had To Be Ivory has four challengers for the Maturity at 400 yards, the afternoon's seventh race. The 9-year-old has won both of his 2024 outings and 11 straight races at Ajax Downs. He has won the Ontario Bred Maturity four times in the past five years.

The Maturity marks the return to Ajax Downs of 2023 Horse of the Year Snow Moose, who finished fifth in the Bradford Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 3 in his season debut. Owned by Burlington's Milena Kwiecien and trained by Jason Pascoe, Snow Moose won five of nine races last year, and he has drawn post one with JB Botello, who was named to ride.

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*Parking and admission are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on the races trackside or from the expansive simulcast room. Wagering is also available through www.HPIBET.com. Do you have a group or company event? Call ahead to reserve the trackside VIP room to enjoy food, drink, and mutuels. Want to get involved in Quarter Horse ownership? Contact the QROOI at 905 - 426-7050 for details.

Follow Ajax Downs on social media @AjaxDowns and visit our website, www.AjaxDowns.com for news, track programs, and more information.