Ajax Downs

How can we not talk about this race !!
Race 6 — 12th Princess Derby
Open A New Corona Battles to First Stakes Victory!

Princess Derby | 3-Year-Old Fillies | 350 yards | Purse $51,525

The 12th running of the Princess Derby delivered a thrilling finish at Ajax Downs, with #3 OPEN A NEW CORONA showing plenty of heart to capture her first career stakes victory!

With Brian Bell aboard, Open A New Corona broke sharply from post three and quickly put herself in a perfect position. But the race was far from over.

#5 Alabama Mooonshine, ridden by replacement jockey Corry Beland, stayed right with the leader and applied pressure all the way to the finish. The two fillies battled stride for stride, but Open A New Corona dug in gamely and refused to give up the lead.

At the wire, Open A New Corona prevailed by a head, stopping the clock in 17.986 and earning a 92 Speed Index.

And bettors who backed her were rewarded with a great price!

Open A New Corona paid $14.00 to win, $5.60 to place and $2.90 to show.

Alabama Mooonshine gave her supporters a big return as well, paying $17.70 to place after finishing a courageous second in 18.002, SI 92.

#9 Working Class Hero, with Alexis Sanchez aboard, came flying late from well back in the field, closing strongly on the outside to grab third in 18.228, SI 86.

The exotic payouts were even more impressive:

$1 Exactor 3-5 — $89.55
20¢ Triactor 3-5-9 — $126.54
20¢ Superfecta 3-5-9-1 — an incredible $1,416.04!

For owner and trainer Joe Tavares, the victory marked an important milestone for Open A New Corona. The Louisiana-bred daughter of Open Me A Corona, bred by Brian Gunder, earned $14,658 for the win.

The victory improved her record to three wins and two seconds from seven starts, while boosting her career earnings to $27,629.

A head-bobbing finish, a first stakes victory and some fantastic payouts made the 12th Princess Derby one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon at Ajax Downs!

Congratulations to Open A New Corona, Brian Bell, Joe Tavares and the entire winning team!

Photo credit :New Image Media

It's happening today in the Ajax Downs Off track & Lounge . Come on in and play the game . Voucher has not been claimed so its now reached $200 !! Opens @ 12

Every Tuesday in the Ajax Downs Off Track & Racing Lounge ...

Ajax Downs Racing Recap
Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Ajax Downs hosted an exciting eight-race card featuring 59 entries, a fast track and a total wagering handle of $309,195. The afternoon included the $59,985 Ontario Bred Futurity, the thrilling 110-yard Gridiron Gallop and a heartfelt tribute to the late Ken Richards.

Race 1 – RR Illbeurhucklebery
Race 2 – Justt Jackson
Race 3 – SRT the Final Cut
Race 4 – Fishin for Coronas
Race 5 – CG Mega Spy
Race 6 – $59,985 Ontario Bred Futurity
The afternoon’s feature belonged to undefeated two-year-old filly Had to Be Valiant.
After becoming unsettled in the starting gate and breaking slightly behind her rivals, she quickly recovered under jockey Ismael Mosqueira, powered to the lead and drew away to win by one length.
Had to Be Valiant completed the 300 yards in 16.249 seconds, earning a 71 Speed Index while racing into a strong headwind.
The official finish was:
Had to Be Valiant
Baref Hurricane Rush
Stolen Ivory S Dash
Stellaaaa
Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson, Had to Be Valiant is by One Valiant Hero and is the first foal from Five Bar Fandango, a half-sister to Ajax Downs champions Had to Be Ivory and Had to Be Fabulous.
Now a perfect two-for-two, Had to Be Valiant continues to show that she could be one of the most exciting young horses at Ajax Downs.
Race 7 – 110-Yard Gridiron Gallop
Blink and you could have missed it!
Sweet Kara exploded from the starting gate and delivered the biggest upset of the afternoon in the lightning-fast 110-yard Gridiron Gallop.
Ridden by Jesus Ambrocio Medina for trainer Jason Pascoe, Sweet Kara defeated Kissin Ella by approximately one length and rewarded her supporters with a huge $45.60 win payoff.
The official top four were:
Sweet Kara
Kissin Ella
Chasing Butterflies
Elvis the Famous
With absolutely no room for error over the ultra-short distance, Sweet Kara delivered a sharp, powerful and unforgettable performance.
Race 8 – My Royal Sw***er
Congratulations to all winners of the day !

Some exciting news !!! Betting voucher has now gone up to $150 as no one has claimed the prize yet !! See you tomorrow AT THE AJAX DOWNS OFF TRACK & RACING LOUNGE , I BET YOU CAN'T WIN THE VOUCHER !!!

Every Tuesday in the Ajax Downs Off Track & Racing Lounge ...

Thank you for supporting the United Way Race Day 50/50! Over 5000 tickets were sold, helping raise funds for important work in our community.

Congratulations to our winning ticket holder, C-2353, who is taking home $2,272.00!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday, July 19 for an incredible afternoon of live Quarter Horse racing followed by the spectacular RCMP Musical Ride.

From the excitement on the racetrack to the breathtaking precision, tradition, and pageantry of the RCMP Musical Ride, it was a day filled with unforgettable moments. The collaboration between these two experiences made for an event that guests of all ages truly enjoyed.

If you've never experienced the RCMP Musical Ride, it is absolutely a must-see. The skill, dedication, and horsemanship displayed by both riders and horses is nothing short of amazing.

Thank you to our wonderful staff, guests, volunteers, community partners, and everyone who helped make this special day such a tremendous success. We loved sharing this unique experience with you and look forward to creating more memorable events at Ajax Downs!
We raised in incredible amount for United Way Durham , they cant wait to put it back into the community .

A special heart felt thank you to the RCMP !

❤️ We hope to see you back at the track soon!

RCMP has arrived for the show Sunday and these horses are gorgeous! VIP stable tours today ! AjaxDowns.com for tickets !

ITS ALMOST HERE ! LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO ....

Every Tuesday in the Ajax Downs Off Track & Racing Lounge ...