Page 51 - Canada Spring 2021

C l i v e C o h e n P h o t o g r a p h y
JULY 1, 2020
Ajax Downs • $23,425 300 yards • :15.344 • si 97
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
Coming off two Canadian-bred Horse of the Year titles, Had To Be Ivory collected his second
consecutive Picov Maturity with a purse of $23,425 on July 1, Canada Day, at Ajax Downs.
Bet down to 3-5 favoritism and with regular rider Tony Phillips aboard, Had To Be Ivory battled with Shes Sizzling for most of the 300 yards. The 5-year-old gelding nevertheless received every call, scoring by a neck in :15.344.
Had To Be Ivory has won 13
of 16 starts, with two seconds.
In addition to his two Picov Maturitys, he has trophies for the 2017 Ajax Juvenile Challenge, 2017
Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, 2018 Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge, and 2018 Picov Derby.
Bryn Robertson trains Had To Be Ivory for owners/breeders Carol and Jaime Robertson. The Robertsons bred Had To Be Ivory in Ontario, Canada, from Had To Be Fandango. Racing for the Robertsons, Had To Be Fandango won the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. She has produced two starters, both winners.
Erik Lehtinen trained Shes Sizzling (Sizzlin Cartel-Shenandoah Special) to a deadheat for 2nd, rid- den by Ramiro Castillo, and bred and owns her with Joyce Lehtinen. Shes Sizzling won the 2019 Ontario Bred Derby and 2018 Mystic Lake
Northlands Futurity. Helen Vanek piloted Maryland Magic (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Purley Un Social) to 2nd for owner Milena Kwiecien trainer Jason Pascoe. Maryland Magic has placed in two other stakes.
Completing the field were Spy For The Senate (Louisiana Senator- Corona Spy), Countrys Comin
Bac (Country Chicks Man-Bac
To Center), Not Whistlin Dixie (Strong Hope-Ramblin Strawfly), Chicksdigmymoneybags (Chicks Regard-Aaneta), Carneros (Prospect To The Top-Cakebread And Thou), and Rey Of The Night (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Unveil).
SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2021 51