AJAX DOWNS, JULY 4, 2021 - Ajax Downs is pleased to welcome back fans to the track beginning with the Wednesday, July 7 card of Quarter Horse racing. With the province now in Step 2 of the re-opening program, Ajax Downs can allow for a limited number of fans on-site through a registration process beginning July 5 at
www.ajaxdowns.com.
Those who register to attend racing on July 7, with a first race post time of 1:30 p.m., will be treated to two stakes events including the $30,600 Picov Maturity for 4-year-olds and upward at 300-yards.
HAD TO BE IVORY, who has won the past two runnings of the Picov Maturity, will be making his second start since his 2020 Maturity victory for owner and breeders Carol and Jaime Robertson and trainer Bryn Robertson. The 2019 Horse of the Year had been away from the races for more than 11 months when he raced June 23 in an allowance event, finishing a close third with a strong finish.
"I thought he ran huge that day," said jockey Cory Spataro. "He hadn't seen the starting gate in a year and to come out and run a 98 [speed index] in his first race back, we were all pleased."
Had to be Ivory, a winner of 13 of 17 races, will break from post position one in the field of seven. Lining up beside him is Milena Kwiecien's MARYLAND MAGIC, who was second by a neck to Had to Be Ivory in last year's Maturity and was an easy winner of his comeback race June 23.
Also in the field is COUNTRYS COMIN BAC, who had a super return to racing when second by a nose in an allowance race, edging Had to Be Ivory, the 2020 Horse of the year FIESTY ICON and world record holder CARNEROS.
The Picov Maturity is race six on July 7. Race four is the first leg of the $20,320 QROOI Distance Series.
For more information on how to register to attend the races plus news and racing information, visit the Ajax Downs website at
www.ajaxdowns.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AjaxDowns.
2019 Horse of the Year HAD TO BE IVORY seeks his third consecutive Picov Maturity on July 7 - New Image Media photo
PICOV MATURITY, July 7, 2021, Purse $30,600. Three Hundred Yards
PP Horse Jockey Trainer Morning Line
1 Had to Be Ivory C Spataro B Robertson 4/1
2 Maryland Magic H M Vanek J Pascoe 5/1
3 Firing Red Jess J Scott S Reid 15/1
4 Fiesty Icon T Phillips R W Kennedy 9/2
5 Carneros I Mosqueira J Pascoe 10/1
6 Countrys Comin Bac C Jeschke D Reid 3/1
7 Shes Sizzling R Isaacs E Lehtinen 7/1
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