Rickashay deflects rivals, wins Ontario feature at 22-1

Rickashay, a reformed claimer rolling back in distance, shocked the bettors in Ontario’s featured Jack Juan stakes this weekend. The winner, a four-year old son of Slip Anchor, shot past the tiring leaders Dignun and Z Dancer before entering the stretch and easily held off the late running tandem of Saratoga Sojourn and Pluto or Bust to reward his backers with a $46.50 winning mutual. Opening Moves, the post-time favorite attempting to extend her string of Ontario stakes victories to three, loomed boldy but flattened out and finished a well beaten sixth.  The final time for the 9 furlong race was a very impressive 1:55 flat.

The victory gave trainer lander2 his second stakes victory in five starts since claiming the colt for $35,000 a little over 6 months ago. A versatile yet sporadic running colt, Rickashay has scored victories routing, sprinting, running on the turf, running on the dirt, running on an off track, running on the lead, and stalking the pace. He earned a speed figure of 104, the highest he has earned since winning the Grade 3 Carlton Fisk handicap last year. He is now 8 for 27 lifetime, with career earnings of over $285,000.