Stunt Man takes leading role in More Than Ready

Stunt Man takes leading role in More Than Ready

Winning Move Stable, Island Wind Racing and Celebrity Group Stables' STUNT MAN

(Western Expression) rallied from last to first to capture Wednesday's $75,250

More Than Ready S. at Belmont Park, upsetting a pair of more highly regarded

rivals in Tiz Wonderful (Tiznow) and E Z Warrior (Exploit) as the 11-1 longshot

in a four-horse field. Trained by Gary Contessa, the New York-bred sophomore

gelding closed strongly under Javier Castellano to win going away by 2 1/2

lengths.

A two-length winner of the Albany S. in his previous outing, Stunt Man

garnered his first black-type score versus open rivals while completing a mile

in 1:35 over the fast track. He returned $25.20 and $6 to his supporters. Grade

2 winner Tiz Wonderful, who raced a close second before assuming control around

the far turn, could not hold the winner at bay in the stretch but easily held

for runner-up honors. Unfortunately, the lightly raced colt was vanned off the

track afterward. Iowa Derby runner-up Flashstorm (Storm Cat) got up late for

third, five lengths back of Tiz Wonderful, at 4-1. Pacesetter E Z Warrior,

favored at 4-5 off a third in the King's Bishop S. (G1), tired to last.

Bred in the Empire State by Flying Zee Stables, Stunt Man hails from the

stakes-winning Well Decorated mare Ribboned. He has an unnamed yearling full

sister and is a full brother to a 2007 filly. Winless from two appearances in

2006, Stunt Man was claimed from an eight-length maiden score in late March.

Prior to the Albany, he placed in the Mike Lee S., Spectacular Bid S., New York

Derby and Cab Calloway S. versus state-bred rivals. The More Than Ready marked

his 13th start of the year. The dark bay has now earned $258,016 from a 15-4-3-3

line.