He's a multiple champion Quarter Horse and a winner of his last eight races at Ajax Downs, but will Had to Be Ivory add to his accolades in Wednesday's 11th running of the Norman Picov Maturity?
A full field of 10 Quarter Horses line up for the $30,000 Maturity which is Race 8 on a strong racing card that begins with a first race post time of 1:30 p.m.
At first blush, you might be inclined to concede the Maturity to Had to Be Ivory, who has won four of the last five runnings of the race, including the last two editions. The remarkable gelding, now nine years old, has had two fast workouts getting ready for his 2024 opener.
There are nine, good older horses set to take on the champ, however, and their odds are sure to be inflated. Here are some tips for placing a wager on Wednesday's exciting Picov Maturity:
Numbers
Here are a few notable numbers to consider when betting the Picov Maturity. While older horses, eight- and nine-year olds, have been known to win stakes races at Ajax Downs, Had to Be Ivory has every reason to be a bit rusty in this first race at age nine as its his first race since October. The big Ontario-bred gelding also comes off his longest losing streak since 2021, the only other occasion he lost two consecutive races (his recent losses came last fall at the tough Indiana circuit).
The nine rivals he will meet in the Maturity make up the biggest field he has ever met at Ajax Downs. Last fall's Indiana Championship was the only other time he raced in a 10-horse field (he finished fifth). The significance of the large field is that there is a greater chance for traffic trouble.
The number four is prevalent as that is the age of several of Ivory's opponents in the Maturity; young horses who are stakes winners with the potential for more improvement.
Young Guns
There are several four- and five-year-olds in the Maturity field who were top class horses last season and could be strong challengers in Wednesday's race. First Cold Wave (No. 9) is one of those horses as this Ontario sired and bred gelding finished second to Had to Be Ivory in last year's Picov Maturity. Bob Bailey's 2021 Horse of the Year went on to win the Ontario Sires Stakes Maturity in September, putting up a career best 101 speed index. Last year's leading jockey Brian Bell is aboard First Cold Wave.
Sour Candy (No. 10) was one of the best three-year-olds of 2023 as he won five of eight races including the prestigious Picov Derby. The Lauren Spada trainee had a taste of some of the top older horses at Ajax last fall when he was a close fourth in the Alex Picov Championship.
Finishing just ahead of Sour Candy in the Championship were No. 1 Had to Be Relentless (Had to Be Ivory's younger half-brother) and the filly No. 8 Valiant Chick InSnow.
Had to Be Relentless chased his barn mate home in last year’s Ontario Bred Maturity, finishing second in a strong effort. He was an improving horse in 2023 and dead heated for second but placed first, in the Picov Championship with Valiant Chick InSnow. The latter has a fitness edge on most of her Maturity rivals as she had two starts at Sandy Ridge in Kentucky in March, both close, fourth-place finishes.
Recency
There are also a few horses who have made starts in 2024, such as Valiant Chick InSnow.
Adreamtobuildakisson (No. 3) had two outings at Louisiana Downs in the winter, finishing mid-pack each time. He's a newly-turned four-year-old who won the Ontario Sires Derby last year.
Spy for the Senate (No. 6) is a stakes winner with 17 career wins, made his 2024 debut at Sandy Ridge in March and won an allowance race in the mud. He is reunited with jockey JB Botello this week and they have won four straight races at Ajax Downs together.
Wagering Strategy
Since Had to Be Ivory (No. 7) is expected to be low odds, some value shopping is recommended and playing exactas, trifectas and superfectas is a good way to keep the favourite in your bets while using some longshots.
$2 Exacta Box: 7 – 9 – 10 = $12.00
$1 Exacta Part Wheel: 6, 9, 10 with 1, 6, 7, 9, 10 = $12.00
You can bet on the Ajax Downs races trackside on Wednesday, May 15 or through
www.HPIBet.com.
Good luck with your wagers!
Field for the 11th Picov Maturity – Race 8, May 15 Ajax Downs
300 yards. Purse: $30,000 added
Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1 HAD TO BE RELENTLESS B Robertson R Castillo 6-1
2 QUICK ASA HICCCUP N Clarke T Phillips 8-1
3 ADREAMTOBUILDAKISSON A Carter I Mosquiera 10-
4 HEART OF THE SUN J Bogar D Benitez 10-1
5 QUEEN CHARLOTTE J Bogar C Benitez 12-1
6 SPY FOR THE SENATE J Pascoe JB Botello 7-2
7 HAD TO BE IVORY B Robertson J Scott 3-1
8 VALIANT CHICK INSNOW J Pascoe R Moreno 15-1
9 FIRST COLD WAVE J Pascoe B Bell 4-1
10 SOUR CANDY L Spada A Sanchez 8-1
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