"We had a good, clean break," said Scott.
AJAX DOWNS, OCTOBER 23, 2024 - The $77,220 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, the richest race at Ajax Downs, came down to inches with the filly HAD TO BE FABULOUS winning the exciting photo finish over PEIGHNTMEADIAMOND at the end of the 400-yard dash for 2-year-olds.
Sent postward as the heavy 1 to 2 favorite in the field of 10, Had to Be Fabulous and jockey Josh Scott broke quickly from post two and had a short lead over 6 to 1 shot Niigaanii. The filly shook off that rival in mid-stretch before 13 to 1 shot Peighntmeadiamond and jockey Brian Bell came rolling from the far outside with a fast rush. After the stewards viewed the photo it was Had to Be Fabulous who was declared the winner for owner/breeders Carol and Jaime Robertson and trainer Bryn Robertson of HIllsburgh, ON.
The 2-year-old Ontario-bred filly HAD TO BE FABULOUS (#2) won a thrilling edition of the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity by a nose. New Image Media photo
Peightmeadiamond, owned and bred by Richard Wincikaby and trained by Rick Kennedy, was second with Niigaanii, owned by Wincikaby's daughter Sarah third, and Heste Sport's Runaway Fate fourth. The time of 20.654 was good for an 80 speed index rating on a warm and windy afternoon.
"We had a good, clean break," said Scott. "She started hesitating a bit down the stretch, so I had to encourage her. Then I saw the 10 horse coming up, and I was just hoping we'd hold on."
Had to Be Fabulous, by One Fabulous Eagle, is yet another stakes winner for the Robertsons' late mare Had to Be Fandango, who has also produced Horse of the Year Had to Be Ivory and stakes winner Had to Be Relentless.
The Alex Picov Futurity was the fifth win in six races for Had to Be Fabulous who won the first three races of her career including the Bonus Futurity in June. Following a seventh-place finish in the Ontario Bred Futurity in July, the filly had a short rest before returning earlier this month to win an allowance race.
"She's just a nice filly," said Bryn Robertson. "And Josh and his girlfriend Jessica [who gallops Had to Be Fabulous] are always at our farm and do a great job for us. We are lucky we have these great horses out of our mare Had to Be Fandango."
Had to Be Fabulous with her winning team - New Image Media photo
One race later, the Robertsons watched Had to Be Fabulous' older half-brother Had to Be Relentless win the final race of the day pushing the family's total to a remarkable 17 wins from 42 starts this season.
The final race day of the 2024 Ajax Downs season is next Wednesday, October 30 with a first race post time of 12:55 p.m. Come to the track next week in a Halloween costume and receive a $2 betting voucher.
Parking and admission are always free at Ajax Downs. You can watch and wager on the races trackside or from the expansive simulcast room open year-round. Coming up on November 2 is Breeders' Cup day from Del Mar racetrack in California. Catch all the action from Ajax Downs!
Want to get involved in Quarter Horse ownership? Contact the QROOI at 905-426-7050 for details on the new Horse Purchase Program (which includes a $7,500 interest-free loan) and how to join the First Line Racing Syndicate.
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Source: Ajax Downs