Ready to Repeat has stakes-debut win in Victoria

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The aptly named favorite Ready to Repeat won his second straight race in his stakes debut in Sunday’s $104,200 Victoria for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

After getting away a tad slowly, Ready to Repeat rushed up to set an honest pace in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, as first-time starter Working the Table pressed in second through the turn.

Ready to Repeat opened up a clear lead entering the stretch, before coasting home on top by 2 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:03.53.

After a three-wide stalking trip, Master Spy held off a wide-closing Gospel Way for second. Working the Table, All Canadian, and Download completed the order of finish.

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The win gave jockey Luis Contreras a sweep of the weekend’s juvenile stakes at Woodbine. He took Saturday’s My Dear for fillies on Joy’s Rocket.

“He broke a little bit slow,” Contreras said. “There was lots of wind. That probably affected (his focus) a little. When I asked him to quicken, he just quickened right away. He’s such a nice horse. He showed he can run anywhere. It’s a great feeling down the stretch. He’s like a sports car.”

A More Than Ready gelding trained by Gail Cox, Ready to Repeat ($3.60) earned $60,000 for owners John Menary, Michael Ambler, and Windways Farm.

“When we put the blinkers on, it (made) quite a bit of difference,” Cox said. “Mentally, he’s a little bit immature. He plays around all the time. Everything’s a big game.”