"We had a little luck on our side," said Bogar of Cameron, ON
AJAX DOWNS, AUGUST 14, 2025 - QUEEN CHARLOTTE, the 2024 Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario's Horse of the Year made a successful return to racing at Ajax Downs on August 13 with a powerful victory in the $30,510 PRINCESS MATURITY for fillies and mares.
James Bogar's Ontario homebred, who had not raced since last October, was bet down to the 4 to 5 choice in the eight-horse field after the late scratch of previous favourite Had to Be Ivy. Breaking from post position 2 under jockey Brian Bell, Queen Charlotte was sharp from the start and dueled Sweet Kara early in the 400-yard dash. Queen Charlotte edged clear in the late stages and held off the late bids of stablemate and younger half-sister Relentless Betty and Jess a Deal to win by a length.
Queen Charlotte, the 2024 Ajax Downs/QROOI Horse of the Year, made a successful return to racing with a win in the Princess Maturity on Aug. 13. New Image Media photo
Queen Charlotte ran the distance in 20.308 for an 89 speed index and paid $3.80 to win. The 5-year-old is by One Fabulous Eagle from the 2011 Ajax Downs Horse of the Year Leanintoit by Tres Seis.
"We had a little luck on our side," said Bogar of Cameron, ON, "But it was great to see her come back in her first race and do well, and her sister also do well,"
Bell said Queen Charlotte had been training well at Bogar's farm this summer. "I expected a good effort from her. I just wasn't sure if she would be fit enough, but she was just awesome."
Queen Charlotte, who won the 2024 Princess Maturity and the Alex Picov Memorial Championship over the boys, has now won 8 of 18 career starts and over $102,000.
Brian Bell, one day shy of his birthday, won three races on Wednesday, including one on another sibling of Queen Charlotte, Leaninto This Moment, a 3-year-old colt who broke his maiden in race 4.
Following the Quarter Horse races on Aug. 13 at Ajax Downs, jockeys Rachael Isaacs and Tony Phillips spoke to a large group of girls from Durham 4H Ontario.
*The successful FIRST LINE RACING SYNDICATE, which brings together like-minded Quarter Horse racing fans into an affordable, two-horse, two-year ownership program, won the first two races at Ajax Downs on Wednesday. POLITICS N LIGHTS broke her maiden in race 1 with Ramiro Castillo riding, and HESMAGICALYDELICIOUS won race 2 under Alexis Sanchez. The QROOI's First Line syndicate offers up to 20 shares of two horses with all bills incorporated into the fee. Bob Broadstock trains the horses. For more information, contact the QROOI at 905- 426-7050.
RACING CONTINUES at Ajax Downs next WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, with a first race post time of 1:45 p.m.
The popular FAMILY FUN DAY is on Sunday, August 24.
Admission and parking are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on our exciting races trackside, up close to the action, at our picnic tables. To reserve tables in advance for $25 or book the VIP room for your party or group, contact www.ajaxdowns.com.
There is also an expansive simulcast wagering room with tellers, or you can wager through www.HPIBet.com.
Source: Ajax Downs