Ready Dancer may finally get opportunity on turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Weather permitting – and that has been the big issue here during opening week of the meet – Ready Dancer finally will get the opportunity to run on the turf when he goes postward the likely favorite in Sunday’s $41,000 allowance feature.

Ready Dancer certainly is the class of the field, already having competed in the Grade 1 Champagne and Grade 2 Futurity after winning his maiden impressively this summer at Saratoga. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won with the first five 2-year-olds he started at the meet, is looking forward to seeing what the well-bred juvenile might accomplish on turf.

“This is something we’ve had in the back of our minds all along since he is by More Than Ready out of a Green Dancer mare,” said Pletcher. “We worked him on the turf this summer [at Saratoga], and he seemed to like it, and felt at this time that trying an allowance race on the grass would help clarify what we’ll do with him next year.”

Ready Dancer was one of 13 2-year-olds entered in Sunday’s feature, which is carded at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. If the race goes as scheduled, his main competition figures to come from Brass Compass, who finished fourth after sticking his head in front between calls near midstretch in the Pulpit Stakes two weeks ago at Gulfstream Park West. Brass Compass, a son of Malibu Moon trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., finished fifth while beaten just two lengths in the Grade 3 Pilgrim at Belmont earlier this fall.

Other top contenders include the impressive debut winner Little Mo and the stakes-placed pair of J R ’s Holiday and Imperial Warrior.

Island Saint flaunts speed

Pletcher was very pleased with the performance Friday of Island Saint, who got back on the winning track leading from start to finish to capture an optional claimer. Island Saint was an impressive debut winner this summer at Saratoga before finishing third in the Sorority at Monmouth Park and fifth in the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont.

“I thought it was a big effort from her today,” said Pletcher. “We had high hopes for her since she broke her maiden. We held her up a little too much in the Sorority, and she missed the break last time, so it was nice to see her get back to her winning ways. That’s the way she wants to run – the way she ran today – to get out and use her speed to her advantage.”

Khozan to stand stud

Khozan was an easy winner of his only two starts before suffering a career-ending injury in his final work prior to the Grade 1 Florida Derby here last winter. Khozan was purchased by Al Shaqab Racing for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton select Florida 2-year-old sale in 2014, and on Wednesday he arrived at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, where he’ll stand for $6,500, according to farm owner Brent Fernung.

“Gil Campbell and I each purchased a 25 percent share in Khozan from Al Shaqab Racing, who retained the other 50 percent,” said Fernung. “I’m excited to have Mr. Campbell as a partner with me in this exciting new stallion prospect, and I think the price of $6,500 is a bargain, considering what he accomplished on the racetrack in such a short time.”

Pletcher, who trained Khozan during his brief racing career, said: “He was a gifted racehorse who I think has a huge chance as a stallion, considering his pedigree, conformation, and the ability he had. He’s a great horse for Florida to get as a stallion prospect.”