A successful 2025 season of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs wrapped up Wednesday, October 22, with a big card of 11 dashes highlighted by CHILLIN WITH PEEPS impressive victory in the $57,060 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds.An Ontario-bred sorrel filly owned, trained and bred by CHANTELLE BOURGEOIS of Enniskillen, ON, Chillin With Peeps and jockey CASSANDRA JESCHKE had a quick start from post position two in the nine-horse field. While two rivals beside her traded bumps soon after the start, Chillin With Peeps sprinted clear on her way to a 1 1/4 length win as the 6 to 5 favourite. The daughter of Ontario sire Rushago was clocked in 20.486 for an 84 speed index. Oklahoma-bred Lights Dynasty and jockey Brian Bell rallied for second with Snow Fun N Fancy, the winner of the Ontario Bred Futurity in June, finishing third.The Picov Futurity was the second win in as many starts for Chillin With Peeps, a daughter of the Bourgeois homebred mare Shake It Twice and granddaughter of Shake Pretty Baby, who also raced for Bourgeois.”It was very smooth,” said Jeschke about the winning trip. “I felt some pressure from the outside but she just kicked on. She hasn’t even hit her full potential yet.”Jeschke has been a part of Chillin With Peeps’ bloodlines for more than a decade. “I won my first Quarter Horse race on her grandmother, Shake Pretty Baby.” For Bourgeois, this was her first Futurity victory in some 25 years in Quarter Horse racing.”We expected a big effort,” said Bourgeois. “But you get scared in a big field like this, but she was really impressive.”Bourgeois and Jeschke also combined to win with the classy older gelding Shaken in an allowance race earlier on the card. *The popular Battle of the Breeds race at 660 yards that kicked off the final day of racing ended up being a duel to the finish for two Quarter Horses trained by Bob Broadstock. GENERAL SKYWALKER, in his first attempt around a ‘hook’ (turn) out-battled his stablemate JESS A DEAL to win by a head, establishing a track record for the distance of 36.216. Tony Phillips rode General Skywalker.
*Jockey RACHAEL ISAACS announced her retirement from race-riding on Wednesday to pursue racing and breeding her own Quarter Horses. Isaacs, who only began a career as a jockey five years ago, won 38 races and over $540,000 (US) in purses. “It was a tough decision to make. But I have some homebreds I want to race myself, and maybe in a couple of years, train for a couple of owners. I want to thank every owner and trainer who gave me a shot and every groom, outrider, pony person, gate crew, paddock person…every person who puts their heart and soul into this sport.”
*Trainer Jason Pascoe of Pontypool won three races on the final day of racing, boosting his yearly total to 35 and giving him his eighth consecutive training title by wins. Jockey Ismael Mosqueira led all riders by wins with 38 and Carol and Jaime Robertson topped the owner’s list with 19 wins.
The Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario names their champions through a point system based on race class and the awards are presented at a ceremony this winter. The final points standings will be confirmed this week.
AJAX DOWNS’ popular simulcast room is open daily offering wagering from tracks around the world. There are also many special events for horseplayers during the off-season so be sure to check in with www.ajaxdowns.com for the latest news. The 2026 Quarter Horse season will begin in May.
Video of Alex Picov Memorial Futurity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDK7RxEWxk
