Ready's Image heads Pletcher trio in Tremont

ELMONT, N.Y. - It was just eight years ago that Todd Pletcher won his first Tremont Stakes with the impressive More Than Ready. Sunday, Pletcher goes for his fourth Tremont trophy with a trio of juvenile colts, including Ready's Image, a son of More Than Ready.

Ready's Image will likely go off the favorite in the $100,000 Tremont. Pletcher's hand is enhanced by debut winner Fort Drum, a New York-bred son of Wiseman's Ferry, and Holidaze, a son of Harlan's Holiday who won his second start. The Tremont, run at 5 1/2 furlongs, drew eight 2-year-olds.

Ready's Image won his debut by 3o1/4 lengths over Keeneland's Polytrack on April 20. Four wide all the way, he drew clear while only shown the whip by John Velazquez.

In his next start, Ready's Image finished third behind Rated Fiesty in the Grade 3 Kentucky Breeders' Cup over a sloppy Churchill Downs track.

"He didn't care for the slop last time out," Pletcher said. "It really took him a long time to settle into stride. He was spinning his wheels and climbing in the slop. I think he's better than that race suggests."

Fort Drum overcame significant bumping to win his debut against New York-breds by 1 1/2 lengths on June 1. He Aint Easy and One Little Secret, who ran two-three behind Fort Drum, came back to run one-two in a maiden race on Friday.

"He got bumped pretty soundly at the start and was able to recover from that and still run a big race," Pletcher said. "He's trained well since then, so I'm thinking he's going to have an improved effort."

After finishing fifth to Ready's Image, Holidaze came back to win his maiden by a head at Monmouth Park.

"I'd say he needs to improve a bit, but he's had two runs under his belt so he might be in position to do that," Pletcher said.

Trainer Steve Asmussen ships in Lantana Mob who won his maiden by 3 3/4 lengths in his second start after running second behind One Hot Wish, who set a world record for 4 1/2 furlongs of 48.87 seconds at Keeneland.

"How do you explain 48-and-4?" Asmussen said. "He is excused for that."

Speaking of Lantana Mob's maiden win, Asmussen said: "I thought he ran really well. I don't know that he ran better than the first time because I don't know how to measure that first race."