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Ontario Bred Stars Had to Be Ivory, Countrys Comin Bac Headline August 3 Feature at Ajax Downs
Had To Be Ivory edged Countrys Comin Bac (3) in the June 1 Picov Maturity and the pair square off in the August 3 feature at Ajax Downs.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media
Ontario Bred Stars Had to Be Ivory, Countrys Comin Bac Headline August 3 Feature at Ajax Downs

AJAX, ONT–AUGUST 1, 2022–Champion Had To Be Ivory, who is two for two this season, will attempt to keep the streak going when he shortens up in distance on August 3 at Ajax Downs. The featured fourth race of the afternoon is at 250-yards and is a $15,000 allowance race for Ontario bred 3-year-olds and upward.

First race post time is 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

Had To Be Ivory, owned and bred by Carol and Jaime Robertson and trained by Carol's husband Bryn, won the Picov Maturity at 300 yards in his 2022 opener and came back to win the first leg of the QROOI Distance Series at 400 yards on June 19.

The large 7-year-old, who has18 career wins in 24 races, has never raced shorter than 300 yards. Josh Scott will ride the 2019 Horse of the Year from post four.

Countrys Comin Bac, a 14-time career winner who was third in the Picov Maturity and then stumbled at the start of the Distance series, will be helped by the shorter distance. The 9-year-old has two wins from five tries at 250 yards.

Owned by Ralph Pearson and trained by Don Reid, Countrys Comin Bac will be ridden by Cassandra Jeschke.

Also in the strong field is Memory Of Griffin, a sensational winner of his 2022 opener on June 8, running away from a field and posting a career best 103 speed index for Erik and Joyce Lehtinen. Angelle Carter trains the 4-year-old and Tony Phillips will ride.

Stakes winner Countryfried Chicken, owned by Milena Kwieciena and trained by Jason Pascoe starts from the rail with Brian Bell, and Steve Hunter's Zoxtobeyou, a short distance specialist with Norm DeSouza riding, completes the field.

The popular Pick 5 wager starts on race 2 on Wednesday, a competitive $10,000 maiden race at 300 yards.

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You can watch and wager on the Ajax Downs card trackside and admission is always free. The races are also available on www.hpibet.com and are live-streamed on the Ajax Downs Facebook page. Follow Quarter Horse racing from Ajax Downs on social media and at www.ajaxdowns.com.