Gulfstream Park: Ready Signal overcomes awkward start to take Powder Break

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ready Signal proved her victory in the Ten Palms Stakes six weeks earlier was no fluke when she returned to register a 1 3/4-length decision over Savvy Hester in Saturday’s $75,000 Powder Break at Gulfstream Park.

Ready Signal had to take up sharply during the early going and trailed the field into the first turn before finishing full of run down the center of the track to overtake the leaders in late stretch under jockey Ramsey Zimmerman. Savvy Hester stalked the pace from the outset and continued on willingly to be second best. Why Katherine dueled 9-5 favorite Baffle Me into defeat after six furlongs and remained clear through midstretch before giving way grudgingly inside the sixteenth pole to finish third.

Baffle Me, a stakes winner here early in the meet and the winner of her last three starts, had little left turning for home and finished eighth in a field of nine older fillies and mares.

Ready Signal ($17), a 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, is owned and trainer by Amy Tarrant. She completed 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf course in 1:39.90.

Tarrant had considered sending Ready Signal to the breeding shed following her win in the Ten Palms before deciding to race her one more season.

“She’s been bossing us around so I said I better make hay while the sun shines with this mare and she showed it today. She’s a true professional,” said Tarrant, who races under the nom de course of Hardacre Farm LLC.

“My heart went to my feet when he [Zimmerman] had to steady the mare but after that he gave her a great ride,” said Tarrant.

Yes I’m Lucky prevails in Mr. Light

Despite not having raced in more than three months, Yes I’m Lucky turned in a tenacious effort to withstand a stretch long bid from even money favorite Cabo Cat, posting a head triumph in the $75,000 Mr. Light Stakes.

Master Lightning finished third in a field that scratched down from nine to only five starters earlier in the day.

With jockey Paco Lopez aboard, Yes I’m Lucky rated off the early pace of El Mono Verde, split horses to engage for the lead entering the stretch, and then dug in gamely to turn back the favorite. Cabo Cat, as expected, raced at the rear of the compact lineup for nearly six furlongs, circled four wide to join for command entering the stretch, appeared to have the winner measured through the final furlong but could never get by the determined leader.

Yes I’m Lucky ($5.80), a son of Yes It’s True, notched his fourth stakes victory in eight career starts for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. and the partnership of Trilogy Stables and Laurie Plesa.