AJAX, ONT—OCTOBER 15, 2018—Morning-line favorite Had To Be Ivory got up at the wire over Carneros to win the $67,720(US) Picov Derby Monday afternoon at Ajax Downs. Aj Chick In 15 finished one-length back for third.

Ridden by jockey Tony Phillips, multiple stakes winner Had To Be Ivory covered the 400 yards into an 8 mph crosswind in :20.110 seconds, equaling a 96 speed index. It was the eighth win from nine career starts for the son of multiple stakes sire Ivory James. The $27,088(US) winners' purse boosted the bay gelding's earnings mark to $112,085.

Trainer Bryn Robertson conditions the Ontario homebred for owner/breeders Carol and Jamie Robertson. Out of the Hadtobenuts mare Had To Be Fandango, Had To Be Ivory has also won the Ajax Juvenile Challenge, Alex Picov Memorial Futurity and the Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge. His only loss came when he faced older horses and it was a second-place effort to Canadian champion County Boy 123.

Milena Kwiecien owns second and third place finishers Carneros and the royally bred Aj Chick In 15.

Conditioned by trainer Jason Pascoe, Carneros picked up $13,544(US) for finishing second. The Oklahoma-bred son champion Prospect To The Top is out of Cakebread And Thou by Valiant Hero. Stone Chase Stables, LLC bred the multiple stakes-placed earner of $51,248. Also second in the Ajax Downs Bonus Derby Challenge in June, jockey Shanley Jackson rode Carneros.

Jockey Cerapio Figueroa had the riding call for Pacoe aboard third-place finisher AJ Chick In 15. The daughter of 2018 leading sire Apollitical Jess is out of the AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Pj Chick In Black by Desirio. Bred by D. Bowen, S. Taylor and Jack Smith Farms, the bay filly picked up $8,820(US) to push her earnings over $47,650.

Draggin Wagon, Express Your Desire, Zoomn Blue, Peepl R Krazi, Island Vodka and Paint Me Southern completed the field. Apollitical Toll was scratched.

All the Ajax Downs events can be found at ajaxdowns.com.