Page 80 - Speedhorse Canada Spring 2020

Clive Cohen Photography
SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
Ajax Downs • $43,870 400 yards • :19.600 • si 108
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Ivory James
HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Ontario Bred Maturity
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Danny Camp
Compared to the rest of the field, Had To Be Ivory was lightly raced. Most of the entries
have had over thirty outs, while Had To Be Ivory only had thirteen. He proved the best, however, and scored his sixth stakes win in the $43,947 Ontario Bred Maturity at Ajax Downs on Sept. 1.
The gelding stepped away from the 8-post and was in front by first call. The farther he went, the far- ther he distanced himself from the field. Under jockey Tony Phillips, Had To Be Ivory crossed the wire 2 3/4-lengths in front. They completed the 400 yards in :19.600 to earn a career best 108 speed index.
Trained by Bryn Robertson, the gelding also earned first place money of $18,090, which pushed his total bankroll to $157,670 for owners/breed- ers Carol and Jaime Robertson.
Raced exclusively at Ajax Downs, Had To Ivory has won the Picov Maturity, Picov Derby, Ajax Downs Bonus Challenge, Alex Picov Memorial Futurity and Ajax Juvenile Challenge.
The Robertsons bred 2018 Canada Champion Had To Be Ivory out of Had To Be Fandango, winner of
the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. She has produced 100% winners from two starters, including Five Bar Fandango, who ran third in the 2019 Ontario Bred Derby.
Arising Miracle (Black Moon Arising-Miracle Empress) and Cerapio Figueroa were second for owner Heste Sport Inc. and trainer Jason Pascoe.
Fiesty Icon (Sugarman Perry- Fiesty Spirit) ran a tough race to finish third under Ed Walton for owner/trainer Richard W Kennedy.
Sweet Pagrana (Winners Award- Lady Pagrana) was in fourth place and was followed across the wire
by Night Fishn (Sugarman Perry- Fisher Lines), Express Your Desire (Desirio-Midnight Express B), Albertt (Mr Jess Tex-Squincheyes) and Sugarmans Delight (Sugarmans Perry-Wonders Delight). Countrys Comin Bac scratched.
80 SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2020