First-time starter Road Ready wins Lost in the Fog

ALBANY, Calif. - First-time starter Road Ready was almost more than jockey Russell Baze could handle in the post parade, but he justified his favoritism by winning the $50,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

A $300,000 March Barretts purchase, Road Ready ($6.80) broke a step slowly but settled nicely behind Ammunition, a colt who won his career debut impressively for Baze. He chose to ride the untested but highly regarded Road Ready rather than Ammunition in the Lost in the Fog.

Baze made the right move. Road Ready was always in contention, and, when Baze shifted him out for room in the stretch, he quickly took control of the race, holding off the fast-finishing King Cola by three-quarters of a length in the five-furlong race for 2-year-olds. River's Chapel was another 1 lengths back in third. The winning time was 59.48 seconds.

Getting to the gate was the hardest part of the day for Baze.

"The first thing he does when I get on him is throw his head up and

smack me in the face," said Baze. "Then he drops me" in the post parade.

Baze said Road Ready was simply feeling good and settled down on the backstretch.

"He broke a little slow, but that was okay," said Baze. "He settled and

just followed [Ammunition]. I like it when they run like that first time

out. He settled behind a horse, got dirt in his face and handled it all."

Trainer Jeff Bonde said owner Jim Vreeland told him to buy the best colt at the Barretts sale.

"This horse seemed like an impact horse," said Bonde of Road Ready, a More Than Ready colt out of the Unbridled mare Eishin Bridle. "He had a

totally efficient stride."

Road Ready earned $30,000 for his debut victory and will be pointed to the Grade 2 Best Pal on Aug. 8 at Del Mar.