"It was her distance today," said Jeschke about the feisty filly. "She likes the shorter distances like 220 and 250 yards. She always tries."
SEPTEMBER 17 2026 - Jockey CASSANDRA JESCHKE and the filly RUSHN SPICE orchestrated one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse season on September 16 when lit up the tote board with a 38 to 1 victory. Rushn Spice had her nose in front at the finish of the 250-yard dash while her five rivals were virtually in a line beside her, the entire field separated by less than a horse length.
In a rarity, Rushn Spice, owned and trained by Chantelle Bourgeois, was such a longshot that no bettor had the Daily Double payoff of sixth race winner SNOW MOOSE, the favourite, onto Rushn Spice. Instead, the Daily Double was paid off on Snow Moose and race 7 runner-up Lil Phyler. It paid $30.60.
Chantelle Bourgeois' RUSHN SPICE and Cassandra Jeschke (purple) win a six-horse photo finish and light up the tote board. New Image Media photo
Rushn Spice, who had only one previous career win which came in May, 2025, paid $79.60 for a $2 win bet, a whopping $60.40 to place and $8.80 to show.
Photo at Left: Horse of the Year Snow Moose and J.B. Botello win the Sept. 16 feature race at Ajax Downs. Photo by JM.
"It was her distance today," said Jeschke about the feisty filly. "She likes the shorter distances like 220 and 250 yards. She always tries."
Snow Moose's victory in the featured sixth race was the first win of the season for the 2023 Horse of the Year. The Ontario bred 6-year-old and his rider J.B. Botello edged CG Mega Spy for his 11th career win. CG Mega Spy, incidentally, was just half a length in front of the third-place finisher, Spy for the Senate, his sire.
Owner and trainer JAMES BOGAR and jockey ISMAEL MOSQUEIRA won two races on the afternoon to continue their hot streak. Bogar has won five races in the last two racing dates while Mosqueira has ridden seven winners from the last 17 races.
Racing continues at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 with a first race post time of 12:55 p.m. Coming up on Monday, October 12 is Pumpkin Day in support of the United Way. Visit www.ajaxdowns.com for more information.
Source: Ajax Downs
