Fire When Ready returns with eye on stakes races

CYPRESS, Calif. – The final day of the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos on Sunday coincides with the first start since April for the 3-year-old gelding Fire When Ready.

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. thinks Fire When Ready can resume racing in stakes in coming months. Fire When Ready was second in the Echo Eddie Stakes for California-bred sprinters at Santa Anita in April, and runs Sunday in an allowance race for statebreds with a $20,000 claiming option.

“He’s training beautifully,” Hess said. “We have high hopes for him for the fall, winter and even into next year.”

Owned by Ron Paolucci, Fire When Ready has not raced since a seventh-place finish in the Northern Spur Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 14, a week after the Echo Eddie Stakes.

“He needed a little rest,” Hess said. “It was nothing physical, just tired.”

Fire When Ready will be ridden for the first time by Gary Stevens.

The optional claimer is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 2 p.m., Pacific. Santa Anita opens its autumn meeting Friday.

Fire When Ready must beat Ninety Nine Proof, a four-time winner who is eligible to be claimed for $20,000, and King Abner, who was second in an optional claimer at Los Alamitos on Sept. 7.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fire When Ready, by Empire Way
Last 3 Beyers: 58-79-66

◗ Fire When Ready worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:14.80 at Santa Anita on Monday, an improvement from a six-furlong workout in 1:17.40 on Sept. 11.

“He’s fit,” Hess said. “Two works back, he was lazy. I worked him from the gate because I wanted to keep him a little focused.

“His only flaw is he will lose focus and dawdle a little. Even in his races, he’ll switch back to his left lead. He’ll be more of a playboy than a business man.”

◗ Fire When Ready won consecutive starts last December and January, including a $30,000 race for maidens at Los Alamitos in his final start for trainer Patricia Harrington. After that race, Fire When Ready was bought by Paolucci and transferred to Hess.

King Abner, by Hansen
Last 3 Beyers: 81-74-80

◗ King Abner is winless in three starts since joining trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable over the summer, but had trouble in two starts at Del Mar. On Sept. 7, King Abner stalked the pace and was beaten a length as the 2-1 favorite.

◗ A 4-year-old gelding, King Abner will start from the rail, and has sufficient speed to set the pace.

Ninety Nine Proof, by Idiot Proof
Last 3 Beyers: 82-89-67

◗ Ninety Nine Proof has been claimed in his last two starts – for $16,000 on Aug. 11 by Doug O’Neill, and for $20,000 on Sept. 2 by current trainer Peter Miller.

◗ Ninety Nine Proof raced near the front and won a six-furlong race by 3 1/4 lengths on Aug. 11. He is likely to have a stalking trip under apprentice jockey Heriberto Figueroa on Sunday.