Page 39 - Speedhorse Canada Spring 2018

Ajax Downs • $20,617 350 yards • :17.990 • si 89
Ivory James HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
july 9, 2017
John Deere aJX Downs Juv. Chal.
HaD to Be ivory
by John Moorehouse
the racing career of Had To
Be Ivory is off to a fine start. The gelding ran to victory in the $20,617 John Deere Ajax Downs Juvenile Challenge on July 9.
Second-fastest qualifier from the June 18 trials, Had To Be Ivory
got away from the 4-gate and was running a close fourth at the first call. Under the confident handling of jockey Tony Phillips, Had To Be Ivory worked his way up to sec- ond as he entered the stretch, then chased down Carneros to get to the finish line first by a neck. The pair crossed the wire in :17.990, earning an 89 speed index in his stakes- winning trip.
Had To Be Ivory now has two wins in as many outs, making him undefeated. Owners Carol and Jamie Robertson banked a $9,483 payday that improved his total bankroll to $12,825 and qualified for the John Deere Juvenile Championship. That race will be held on Oct. 14 at Prairie Meadows, and will have a guaran- teed purse of $130,000.
The young gelding is the first starter out of his dam, Had To Be Fandango, who won the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. The mare also finished second in the 2011 Princess Stakes Derby, 2012 All Canadian Classic Maturity and 2013 Alex Picov Memorial Championship, all ran at Ajax Downs.
Jason Pascoe trains both the second- and third-place finishers. Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou) finished second for owner Milena Kwiecien. Rene Gutierrez was in the irons. Amelie Aubut owns Silky Senator (Louisiana Senator-Denali Peak), who hit the board in third with Ramiro Castillo aboard.
Miss Racy Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Miss Racy First Down), Zoomn Blue (Mezoomn-Eyesa Chickin It Out), Island Vodka (Triple Vodka-Pantherisland) and Lethal PYC (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Lethal Delight) completed the field. Azoomin Fury, Diane Dynamite and Express Your Desire were scratched.
SPEEDHORSE CANADA, Spring 2018 39
Clive Cohen Photography