Had To Be Fabulous, ridden by Ismael Mosquiera, wins the Norman Picov Derby at Ajax Downs on Wednesday.

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

AJAX, ONT–SEPTEMBER 10, 2025–Had To Be Fabulous proved once again why she is one of Canada’s elite racehorses, remaining undefeated in 2025 and scoring her ninth consecutive win in the $42,775 (US) Norman Picov Derby at Ajax Downs on Wednesday afternoon.

Breaking from the gates under jockey Ismael Mosqueira, Had To Be Fabulous completed the 400-yard stakes in 20.066 seconds, clocking a 95 speed index. She prevailed by a length over runner-up Kissin Ella and Peighntmeadiamond who crossed the wire in a photo finish by a nose for third.

The victory added $17,138 (US) to Had To Be Fabulous’ bankroll, boosting her career earnings to $120,105 (US) from 13 starts, which includes an extraordinary 12 wins and six stakes victories.

The winning connections of Had To Be Fabulous accept the Norman Picov Derby trophy on Wednesday. © Clive Cohen/New Image Media

The win also marked Mosqueira’s third of the afternoon and 31st of the season. “Today she came into the race sharp,” Mosqueira said. “She’s usually very quiet—we always have to try to wake her up a bit—but today she was all over the place, trying to bite the pony, being confident. So we went into the gates with confidence.”

Reflecting on the break, Mosqueira added, “We broke together with the number ten horse (Last Cold Bud), who got a little bit out in front of me by a head, but when she saw that, she just switched gears. She doesn’t want to get beaten. If she can go get the wire, she will do it. If we get a delay at the gate, like a couple of starts ago, she doesn’t care. She just re-rallies, she’s something special.”

When asked how to describe the filly, Mosquiera commented, “She speaks for her name, she’s a ‘Fabulous’ filly. It started as being fun to ride her, to being scared to mess up her record, but now it’s just amazing. I don’t recall riding a horse like this in my career, and I am just very thankful.”

Bred and owned in Ontario by Carol and Jaime Robertson, the three-year-old daughter of One Fabulous Eagle is out of the Hadtobenuts mare Had To Be Fandango. Trained by Bryn Robertson, she has dominated this season with four consecutive stakes wins, having already captured the Princess Derby, Ontario Bred Derby, and QROOI Open Derby.

Trainer Bryn Robertson agreed with Mosquiera, crediting her pedigree and poise. “Breeding. She’s got great breeding, and she never gives us any trouble. She’s so quiet, I sometimes wonder if she’s even going to run. Every time I think, well, maybe not this time. Today, she was a little sharper, going up on the pony like Ismael said. She was twitching around. Then she got up in the gate, stood, and broke very well.”

Her record also includes titles as the 2024 AQHA Canadian Champion and victories in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity and QROOI Bonus Futurity. With Wednesday’s Norman Picov Derby score, Had To Be Fabulous further cemented her chances for a repeat as Canada’s Horse of the Year.

Robertson hinted that the filly may have made her final start this season, “She’s at seven starts, there’s really nothing else for her. So I think we are going to quit while we are ahead,” he said

Kissin Ella, a daughter of Kiss My Hocks out of the Corona Cartel mare Cartella, ran a determined second by a neck under jockey Juan Botello for owner Milena Kwiecien and trainer Jason Pascoe. Bred in Oklahoma by Paris Wixon, she was purchased for $21,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

From 14 starts, she has one win, four runner-up finishes, and two thirds, banking $24,238 (US). Kissin Ella has also placed in the QROOI Open Derby and was a finalist in the Princess Derby earlier this season.

Peighntmeadiamond, a gelded son of Peighnt Your Fate out of Swingwiththering-TB by Where’s the Ring-TB, finished third. Brian Bell had the riding call for owner-breeder Richard Wincikaby and trainer Joe Tavares. The Ontario-bred has one victory, three seconds, and three thirds from 13 starts, earning $39,343 (US).

Despite only breaking his maiden in July, Peighntmeadiamond has compiled a strong stakes résumé, finishing second in the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity, third in the Ontario Bred Derby, fourth in both the Ontario Sires Stakes Futurity and Ajax Stallion Auction Futurity, and fifth in the QROOI Open Derby.

Last Cold Bud, Elvis The Famous, Game Favoirte, The Batmann, Sassies Best, Nadir and Stolin Secrets round out the order of finish

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