Page 70 - Speedhorse, February 2019

HAD TO BE IVORY si 107, $112,085
Canadian Champion
Breeders/Owners: Carol & Jaime Robertson Trainer: Bryn Robertson
Jockey: Tony Phillips
2018 Record: 4-3(2)-1-0, $42,154, Ajax Downs Bonus D. Chal., Picov D.
The Robertson family does everything when it comes to Had To Be Ivory’s career. Their efforts earned the gelding the Canadian Championship honors of 2018.
“We bred him,” said Bryn Robertson, who traveled to Oklahoma to accept the award at Heritage Place. “My wife, son, and his wife do all the work. He’s the blacksmith and the exercise rider, and I’m the trainer.”
The family bred Had To Be Ivory in Ontario, Canada, in the name of Carol and Jaime, Bryn’s wife and daughter-in-law. Jaime is married to the Robertsons’ son, Mike. Carol and Jaime are also listed as the owners, but make no mistake—the entire family owns and loves Had To Be Ivory.
Had To Be Ivory has spent his entire career at Ajax Downs. As a 2 year old in 2017, he was a perfect five-for-five, which included wins in the Ajax Juvenile Challenge and Alex Picov Memorial Futurity.
He almost kept his record perfect through 2018 as well.
Had To Be Ivory began 2018 by winning the June 17 Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge under regular rider Tony Phillips. Had To Be Ivory won by a 1/2-length as the odds-on favorite.
Corona Cartel
Ivory James
Dashin Follies
Holland Ease
Corona Chick
Strawfly Special
First Down Dash Easy Henryetta Chicks Beduino Sizzling Lil Special Effort Fly In The Pie First Down Dash Hempes Folly
First Down Dash Miss Strikin Jet Firebrand Bar Miss Oakie Mito Special Effort Fly In The Pie Coup De Kas TB
Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Easy Jet
Babys Henryetta Beduino TB
A Classy Chick Sizzle Te
Lilsalady TB
Raise Your Glass TB Go Effortlessly
Pie In The Sky Flying Rockette Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Hempen TB Jets Runway
Dash For Cash First Prize Rose Streakin Dash Fast Copy Talent Bar Baldy Brand Mito Paint TB Juanjet
Raise Your Glass TB Go Effortlessly
Pie In The Sky Flying Rockette Kaskaskia
Mor Coup
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug
Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Lanovay
Baby Steel TB Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat
Chick’s Deck Mayshego TB Azure Te TB
Jet’s Fair Lady Reb’s Policy
Here’s To Lil
Raise A Native Champagne Woman Double Devil
Hijo Beauty TB Easy Jet
Miss Jelly Roll Rocket Bar TB
Fly Straw
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet
Rose Bug
Indian Hemp
Serry
Easy Jet
War Folly
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Streakin Six
Got Alot Going Fast Jet
Can’t Copy Royal Bar Della’s Queen Firebrand Reed Sue’s Answer Mito
Herb’s Miss
Jet Deck
Myria Juan
Raise A Native Champagne Woman Double Devil
Hijo Beauty TB Easy Jet
Miss Jelly Roll Rocket Bar TB Fly Straw Catullus Cymbidium Villamor
Re Bley
Little Dick Priest
Dashing Folly HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-G.
Hadtobenuts
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Strike The Cash
Shes Bad
Strawfly Special
Coup De Sue
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A rough trip may have contributed to H
and Had To Be Ivory finished second.
In against 3 year olds, Had To Be Ivory w
his trial for the Picov Derby by 1/2-length. .
Bryn Robertson said later that Had To Be Ivory came out of the gate a little crooked, cutting a leg and pulling a shoe.
The family took good care of their star. Though he was sore for a couple of days, Had To Be Ivory was ready for the Oct. 15 final. Bounced around early, the gelding had to try and catch the leader, Carneros. Game right
to the wire, Had To Be Ivory eked out the victory by a head.
“We’re very proud of him,” said Bryn Robertson.
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To Be Ivory’s only loss. Five of the six horse
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an Aug. 5 allowance race bumped or brushe
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including Had To Be Ivory. Country Boy 1
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a year older and a multiple stakes winner, w
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Bryn Robertson and Norm Lubba, AQHA
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66 SPEEDHORSE, February 2019