Had To Be Ivory Returns in Norman Picov Maturity

AJAX DOWNS, TUESDAY MAY 16, 2023 - Had To Be Ivory, the 2022 Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs, makes his 8-year-old debut on Wednesday, May 17 in the $30,375 Norman Picov Maturity for 4-year-olds and upward at 300 yards.

Had to Be Ivory, one of the richest Ontario-bred Quarter Horses in history, comes off a six start undefeated season where he set two track records.

Owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Bryn Robertson, Had to Be Ivory was also the American Quarter Horse Association’s Canadian Champion of 2022. The son of Ivory James has 22 career wins in 28 starts and comes into the Maturity off two fast workouts.

Josh Scott will ride Had to be Ivory from post position 2 in the seven horse field. The Norman Picov Maturity is the final dash on a six-race card on Wednesday with a first race post time of 1:30 p.m.

Set to take on the champ is last year's High Point 3-Year-Old Filly Eye Live For Candy, winner of the Picov and Princess Derbys in 2022 and third behind Had to Be Ivory in the Alex Picov Memorial Championship.

By A Revenant the Wyoming bred Eye Live for Candy is trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, Ont., and owned by Milena Kwiecien. JB Botello will ride the filly from post five.

The top two 3-year-old colts of 2022, First Cold Wave and Night Leader will be meeting Had to Be Ivory for the first time.

First Cold Wave, owned by Robert Bailey, was the 2021 Horse of the Year and last season won the Ontario Bred Derby. 

The Ontario sired and bred son of Cold Hard Dash was nosed out in his final outing of last season, the Ontario Sired Derby, by NIGHT LEADER, owned by John Wilson.

Diego Benitez will ride First Cold Wave for the first time and Cary Furlonger is the regular rider of Night Leader.

This is the second racing day of the 2023 Ajax Downs meeting which takes place on Wednesdays and one 'Special Event' Sunday each month in the summer.

Admission is always free at the fan-friendly track. You can watch and wager on the races at www.hpibet.com.

For more news and events, check out www.ajaxdowns.com and follow us on social media, @AjaxDowns.

Click here to view the full list of entries for May 17 at Ajax Downs

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