Page 54 - Canada Spring 2022

C l i v e C o h e n P h o t o g r a p h y
AUGUST 11, 2021
Ajax Downs • $16,005 400 yards • :19.443 • si 110
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Ivory James
HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Had To Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
QROOI Distance Series #2
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Danny Camp
Champion Had To Be Ivory scored a victory in the $16,005 QROOI Distance Series #2 at Ajax
Downs on Aug. 11.
He stood in the gates the longest,
as he was in the number one hole. When the gates opened, he didn’t get the first call but within a couple of jumps there was no doubt. With Cory Spataro aboard, he quickly put 2-lengths on the field. At the wire he was 2 1/2-lengths in front.
Trained by Bryn Robertson, Had To Be Ivory completed the 400 yards in :19.443 to earn a 111 speed index, just ticks off the :19:400 track record.
The gelding brought home the $7,114 winner’s share of the
purse for owners Carol & Jaime Robertson, to push his total lifetime earnings to $198,370.
This marks his eighth stakes victory, also wining the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, Picov Derby, Picov Maturity (twice), Ajax Juvenile Challenge, Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge, and the Ontario Bred Maturity, where he set a New Track Record and a 108 speed index.
Carol and Jaime Robertson bred Had To Be Ivory out of Had To Be Fandango, winner of the 2011 Maple Leaf Derby. She has pro- duced 100% winners from three starters, including stakes placed Had To Be Relentless and Five Bar
Fandango. Had To Be Ivory is her first stakes winner.
Countrys Comin Bac (Country Chicks Man-Bac To Center) finished second under Cassandra Jeschke for owner Ralph Pearson and trainer Don Reid.
Spy For The Senate (Louisiana Senator-Corona Spy) and jockey Ismael Mosqueira finished in third for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe.
Country Boy 123 (Country Chicks Man-Very Dashin 123), Chicksdigmymoneybags (Chicks Regard-Aaneta) and Eazy Street (Mighty B Valiant) completed the order of finish.
52 SPEEDHORSE CANADA Spring 2022