Page 8 - Speedhorse Canada Spring 2020

The entire Robertson family contributes to Had To Be Ivory’s success. They bred Had To Be Ivory, a son of Ivory James and out of
Had To Be Fandango, in Ontario, Canada. The breeders and owners are listed as Carol and Jaime Robertson, Bryn’s wife and daughter-in-law,
but everyone pitches in. Mike, the Robertsons’ son, is the gelding’s blacksmith and exercise rider.
Had To Be Ivory has started 14 times in three years of competition, all at Canada’s Ajax Downs. He began his career at
2 in 2017 with five wins in five starts, including victories in the
Ajax Juvenile Challenge and Alex Picov Memorial Futurity.
At 3 in 2018, he won three of four, including the Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge and Picov Derby.
Had To Be Ivory started five times in 2019 and won three.
He started the season in a May 12 allowance event. Only necks and heads separated the first six runners, with Had To Be Ivory emerging on top, defeating odds- on favorite Country Boy 123.
Country Boy 123 went off as the favorite again in the May 26 Picov Maturity. Had To Be Ivory bested that rival by 3/4-length.
A stumble at the start cost Had To Be Ivory first place in a July
1 allowance event. Even with the trouble, he rallied to be second.
Had To Be Ivory’s final victory of the season came in the Sept.
1 Ontario Bred Maturity. Sent off as the odds-on favorite with regular jockey Tony Phillips aboard, Had To Be Ivory quickly took command.
He proved so dominant that not only did he daylight the field by
2 3/4-lengths, he set a New Track Record. Had To Be Ivory stopped the timer in :19.600 for 400 yards for a speed index of 108.
Had To Be Ivory wins the Picov Maturity under jockey Tony Phillips.
8 SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2020
Butch Wise AQHA, Bryn Robertson, trainer and Zack Kennedy.