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Regally Ready wears Twin Spires Turf Sprint crown
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| Regally Ready is now perfect in two starts over the Churchill turf
(Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com) |
Jockey Corey Nakatani and trainer Steve Asmussen enjoyed success ahead of
Nehro's (Mineshaft) attempt in Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) when Vinery
Stables' REGALLY READY (More Than Ready) proved best in the $111,200
Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) over five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In a potential precursor to the Breeders' Cup
Turf Sprint (G2), to be held over the same course and distance in November,
Regally Ready ran his local mark to two-for-two while notching his third
consecutive stakes win of the season. The 3-1 third choice in a field of eight,
Regally Ready paid $8.80, $4.40 and $3.
In showery weather over firm ground, Regally Ready broke alertly and saved
ground near the hedge in third while Southern Region (Stormy Atlantic) rushed to
the lead, with 5-2 second choice Bridgetown (Speightstown) in close pursuit. The
margin between the top two was a half-length after a quarter in :21 4/5, with
Regally Ready about two lengths behind Southern Region. In the stretch, Regally
Ready angled off the inside to make his bid outside Bridgetown, who had forged
past Southern Region to move up a length with a furlong to go. Though Bridgetown
got the half in :44 4/5, he had little left to contain Regally Ready, who drove
past easily to score by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of :56 2/5.
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"With who was in the field and the draw you got, you knew he was going to
have to show a different element," Asmussen said. "He didn't used to show this
much speed and it never kept him from winning. He has run quite a bit recently
so now we need to map out a plan that gets him back here for (the Breeders' Cup)
the fall."
Bridgetown held second by 3 1/4 lengths over Chamberlain Bridge (War Chant),
last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner who was favored here at 2-1.
Southern Region was a length further back in fourth and was followed by Custom
for Carlos (More Than Ready), Spectacular Kid (Mizzen Mast), Early Return
(Carson City) and Henry's Time (Hennessy). Bergerac (Rahy) was scratched.
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| Regally Ready has won five of six since moving to the turf last November
(Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos) |
A maiden winner in his third career start last July, Regally Ready did not
attempt turf for the first time until November 20 when coasting to a 7
3/4-length second-level allowance score at Churchill. Sent west as part of
trainer Steve Asmussen's first-ever string at Santa Anita, Regally Ready
finished third in the Daytona S. (G3) on New Year's Day, won an allowance by 3
1/4 lengths, then took the Joe Hernandez S. by 1 3/4 lengths on March 18. Last
time, Regally Ready just held by a nose to clinch the San Simeon H. (G3). All
four efforts were downhill at about 6 1/2 furlongs. The four-year-old gelding's
mark now stands at 13-7-2-3, $364,854.
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC, Regally Ready was a $110,000 Keeneland
September yearling. Out of the French stakes-placed Kivi (King of Kings [Ire]),
Regally Ready is a half-brother to the juvenile filly Extra Mousse (Posse) and a
2011 colt by Kodiak Kowboy.
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Regally Ready's second dam was the Irish classic-placed Group 3 winner
Vilikaia (Nureyev), a full sister to Group 2 winner Navratilovna and a
half-sister to the Group 1-winning producer Maximova (Fr) (Green Dancer). The
latter produced Group 1 winners Septieme Ciel (Seattle Slew) and Macoumba (Mr.
Prospector), and multiple Grade 3 winner Maxigroom (Blushing Groom [Fr]).
Maximova was also the granddam of Grade 1 winner Riviera (Fr) (Kris) and Grade 3
winners Temple City (Dynaformer) and Worth Repeating (Giant's Causeway).
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