Page 67 - Speedhorse Canada Spring 2020

Clive Cohen Photography
MAY 26, 2019
Ajax Downs • $41,520 300 yards • :15.230 • si 104
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Ivory James
HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Picov Maturity
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Tracy Gantz
Had To Be Ivory doesn’t like to lose. In 10 lifetime starts, he had only lost once, to Country
Boy 123. Bettors took note in the $41,520 Picov Maturity on May 26 and made Country Boy 123 the favorite over Had To Be Ivory. Those who stayed true to Had To Be Ivory, however, were rewarded when the gelding avenged his only defeat.
Tony Phillips, who has rid- den Had To Be Ivory in his every start, was back aboard. Bringonthewave broke on top, while Had To Be Ivory came away last of eight. But he quickly moved up and beat Country Boy 123 by 3/4-length in :15.230 for 300 yards.
Bryn Robertson trains Had To Be Ivory for owners/breeders Carol and Jaime Robertson. Had To Be Ivory previously won the 2017 Ajax Juvenile Challenge, 2017 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, 2018 Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge, and 2018 Picov Derby.
The Robertsons bred Had
To Be Ivory from Had To
Be Fandango. Racing for the Robertsons, Had To Be Fandango won the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. The mare has produced two start- ers, both winners.
Ruth Barbour owns and trains second-place Country Boy 123 (Country Chicks Man-Very Dashin 123), ridden by Cory
Spataro. A 6-year-old gelding, Country Boy 123 has won eight stakes, including the 2017 and 2018 Picov Maturity.
Brian Bell rode Bringonthewave (Wave Carver-Special Corona) to third for trainer Jason Pascoe and owner Dale Zukowski. Bringonthewave has won three stakes.
Countrys Comin Bac (Country Chicks Man-Bac To Center), Express Your Desire (Desirio-Midnight Express B), Silky Senator (Louisiana Senator- Denali Peak), Albertt (Mr Jess Tex-Squincheyes) and Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou) completed the
order of finish. Cayanosa
was scratched.
SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2020 67