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Regally Ready for BC Turf Sprint after wiring Nearctic

Regally Ready (right) fends off Bated Breath (left) and Gypsy Ring (center) (WEG/Michael Burns Photography) Vinery Stables' Regally Ready was arguably the hottest American turf sprinter in the first half of this season, and judging by his wire-to-wire victory in Sunday's Grade 1, $506,537 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine, the Steve Asmussen trainee is back firing on all cylinders ahead of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, who has himself been clicking with Asmussen runners of late, the 9-1 overlay held on gamely from 2-1 favorite Bated Breath and Gypsy Ring in a three-way photo. Regally Ready broke sharply from post 9 and soon out-hustled the rail-drawn Fiddlers Patriot for the early lead. After controlling the pace through splits of :23 2/5 and :46 3/5 on the yielding turf, he met a challenge from Gypsy Ring down the stretch. Regally Ready kicked away to reach five furlongs in :58 2/5, but when British shipper Bated Breath launched his rally inside the final furlong, Gypsy Ring found his second wind and came again.

As Bated Breath loomed dangerously on the outside, and Gypsy Ring got back into contention in the middle, Regally Ready knuckled down. Refusing to yield an inch in the dying strides, he kept his neck in front in a final time of 1:11 1/5 for the six-furlong scramble.

Bated Breath, who crossed the wire a head in front of Gypsy Ring, was suffering his third near-miss in top-level company. The Juddmonte Farms colorbearer failed by a nose in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup last time (also in a three-way photo) and by a half-length in the Group 1 July Cup.

There was a break of two lengths back to Grand Adventure in fourth, followed by Fiddlers Patriot; British invader Hitchens; Irish filly Bewitched, who scuttled her chances with a tardy start; Right One; Riding the River; Fatal Bullet; Jenny's So Great; and Yield Bogey. Signature Red was scratched.

Regally Ready, who returned $21.60, $9.10 and $5.90 for his first Grade 1 coup, sports a mark of 16-8-2-4, $670,684. The chestnut gelding was a two-time winner over Woodbine's Polytrack last year, but really sparkled on the switch to turf. A 7 3/4-length romper in his turf bow at Churchill Downs last November, Regally Ready checked in third in the Grade 3 Daytona in his stakes debut at Santa Anita.

With that experience on the unique downhill turf under his belt, he started his winning spree, taking an allowance, the Joe Hernandez Stakes and the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap. Regally Ready extended his streak to four in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill, staying perfect over the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint course and distance.

Regally Ready was ultra-game to last the six furlongs on yielding ground (WEG/Michael Burns Photography) Following his three-month break, Regally Ready shook off the rust with a close third in the My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth, but showed little when 10th in the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx. Assistant trainer Devron Leingang, however, noted that those comeback races were "easy" and facilitated his build-up to the Nearctic, and ultimately the Breeders' Cup. "The main thing with him is to get him relaxed," Nakatani said. "His first comeback race (the My Frenchman) he got a little late, but Steve said, 'Don't worry about it. We'll be on track for the Breeders' Cup.'  "I think this was a great spot for him, and he did what he was supposed to do, going into the Breeders' Cup."

Regally Ready was bred by Vinery's Grapestock in Kentucky and sold to the racing arm of the operation for $110,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The son of More Than Ready is out of the French stakes-placed Kivi, by King of Kings. His second dam is Group 3 winner and classic-placed Vilikaia, and his third dam is influential producer Baracala.

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