Minnesota Ready closes strongly to win Speightstown Sprint

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Minnesota Ready put in a determined bid to catch Tape to Tape nearing the wire for a half-length win the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint on Monday at Lone Star Park. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Mish.

The Speightstown was the first of six stakes on the annual Lone Star Million Day card. Purses for the races totaled $1.2 million on what was the richest card of the meet.

Minnesota Ready ($8.80) settled in fifth behind Tape to Tape, who set pressured fractions of 21.77 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.21 for the half-mile. Minnesota Ready unleashed a strong closing kick in the stretch and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:09.29.

“He ran great,” said winning trainer Tom Amoss. “The setup was perfect. There was a group of leaders battling up front and he likes to run into that. He likes to run into a fast pace.”

Cristian Torres was aboard for his second win on the card, following an allowance immediately preceding the Speightstown.

Minnesota Ready invaded from Churchill Downs and will head back there Tuesday, said Amoss. He said plans with regard to his next race will be determined.

“We’ll get him back, give him a little rest, a proper time between races,” he said.

Minnesota Ready was winning the second stakes race of his career. He entered the Speightstown off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs and prior to that was second in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland. Minnesota Ready is a son of More Than Ready who races for Richard E. Colton Jr.

Minnesota Ready is now 5 for 25 for earnings of $485,912.

Tape to Tape came into the Speightstown Sprint off earning one of North America’s highest main track Beyer Speed Figures this year, a 106 for a local allowance win at Lone Star.

The Speightstown was delayed due to the weather, with horses being brought back to the paddock immediately after the post parade due to lightning in the area. After clearances, racing resumed without incident under both sunny skies and temperatures in the 90s. There were thunderstorms forecast for the area Monday.

Spirit Wind first winner for Smith, Joseph

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won with their first ever starter together when Spirit Wind breezed to a 3 1/2-length win over Accomplished Girl in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint for fillies and mares. It was another seven lengths back in third to My Friend Amy.

Smith, who is based on the West Coast, and Joseph, who is based on the East Coast, both shipped in for multiple stakes engagements at Lone Star.

Spirit Wind ($2.60) was content to track the pace set by Palacein, who zipped the opening quarter-mile in 21.77 seconds. Spirit Wind moved past that one on the turn and continued on through a half-mile in 44.22 before finishing six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.37.

Spirit Wind, who was coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs, won the fourth stakes race of her career. She picked up $59,100 for the victory to improve her career record to 6 for 11 for earnings of $447,790. Spirit Wind is a daughter of Bahamian Squall.

Spirit Wind is owned by C 2 Racing Stable, which sent in a number of starters for Lone Star Million Day in part because as one of the partners in the stable is a resident of North Texas.

* Agent Peter Graves ($32.40) set fractions of 21.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.63 for the half-mile en route to a 1 1/2-length win over Prince Lancelot in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge. The winner completed the five furlongs on firm turf in 55.77 seconds. Jockey C.J. McMahon was aboard for breeder and owner Linda Juckette and trainer Scott Young. Agent Peter Graves is by Noble Mission.

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