The stellar lineup of stakes action continues September 13 at Kentucky Downs with the tracks second and final Saturday card of the meet which includes the $200,000 More Than Ready for three year-olds and upward going a mile on the turf.
The field of nine is led by 2/1 morning line favorite Guys Reward trained by Dale Romans. Guys Reward, a hard-knocking veteran and stakes campaigner, has posted eight wins, three seconds, and ten thirds in 38 career starts on the turf for earning of $680,089. The seven year-old son of Grand Reward is a multiple grade III winner, and has been a consistent performer over the years for his current connections.
Two starts back, Guys Reward won the Grade III Oceanport stakes at a mile and a sixteenth at Monmouth before faltering at a mile and an eighth in the Grade III Cliff Hanger in his last start over the same track. Back at a shorter distance, Guys Reward figures to be in the mix once again, and gets a jockey change with veteran rider Corey Lanerie in the irons.
Regally Ready (5/2 ML) possesses the speed to control the race for trainer Steve Asmussen. A son of the race’s namesake, Regally Ready is in sharp form having won three of his last four starts including a 12 length win in the West Virginia Speaker’s Cup – a race that was washed off the turf and run on the main track at Mountaineer August 2. A former Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint champion, Regally Ready has acquitted himself nicely at the mile distance with two wins in six lifetime starts at that distance on the grass.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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