AJAX, ONT—JULY 19, 2021—it's the big 'Boy' against the diminutive girl in the second leg of the QROOI Sprint Series at Ajax Downs on Wednesday (Jul 21).

Three-time Horse of the Year Country Boy 123 returns to his home track after missing by a nose in the $59,000 Bradford Stakes at Indiana Grand on July 8 and meets up with the fast, pint-sized mare Jess A Sweet Suprize, who beat the champ in the 110-yard first leg of the series on June 16.

Ruth Barbour's 8-year-old gelding, a winner of 27 of 45 career races and the richest Canadian-based Quarter Horse with over $500,000 in earnings, was interfered with out of the gate in the first leg of the Sprint Series and wound up fifth, placed fourth when rival Night Fishn was disqualified. Meanwhile, Craig Spada's Jess A Sweet Suprize had scampered away from the gate under jockey Cory Spataro and won by a nose over the 10-year-old warrior Arctic Fame.

"Each year she keeps getting better," said owner/trainer Spada, who sits second in the trainer's standings to Jason Pascoe with eight wins. "Her mum (Jess Curl My Prize) was like that too. We are pretty excited about her this year."

Country Boy 123 and Jess a Sweet Suprize line up beside each other in the gate for the $19,890-second leg in posts two and three respectively. Ed Walton returns to ride Country Boy 123.

The nine-horse field also includes previous Sprint Series champion Carneros, Night Fishn, Arctic Fame, and impressive allowance winner Silken Siri, The Sprint Series-2 goes as race seven. First race post time is 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

The complete lineup, in post-position order including jockey assignments, trainer and morning-line odds for the 220 yard $19,890 QROOI Spring Series::

1. Shes Sizzling — R Isaacs — E Lehtinen, 10/1
2. Country Boy 123 — E Walton — R Barbour, 3/1
3. Jess a Sweet Suprize — C Spataro — C Spada, 4/1
4. Silken Siri — T Phillips — E Lehtinen,10/1
5. Carneros — I Mosqueira — J Pascoe, 6/1
6. Arctic Fame — J Scott — S Reid, 12/1
7. Zoxtobeyou — L Desouza — J Grice, 8/1
8. Night Fishn — R S Castillo — D Giles, 8/1
9. Chicksdigmymoneybags — B Bell — R Barbour, 7/2

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Ajax Downs welcomes its racing fans back to the track through a registration process. Simply go to ajaxdowns.com/registration/ and reserve your spot to enjoy an afternoon of exciting Quarter Horse racing.

Be sure to check out ajaxdowns.com for race selections, live streaming, and a free pocket program on race days as well as the latest news. You can watch and wager on the Ajax card at Horseplayer Interactive, hpibet.com. Follow Ajax Downs on Twitter and Instagram @AjaxDowns.

If you would like information on how to get involved in owning a Quarter Horse or to join a syndicate, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at qrooi.com.

The races are streamed live on the Ajax Downs Facebook page and its new Youtube page YouTube page.