Regally Ready keeps rolling with More Than Ready Mile win

FRANKLIN, Ky. – The old pro Regally Ready shows no signs of slowing down, as he rolled to another victory Saturday in a race named for his sire.
With Rosie Napravnik aboard, Regally Ready won for the 15th time in 36 career starts with a 2 1/4-length score over the 31-1 shot Stormy Going in the $200,000 More Than Ready Mile at Kentucky Downs. The 7-year-old gelding returned $4 as the favorite in a field of eight older horses.

Owned by Vinery Stables, Regally Ready is best known for winning the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. But he has made a smooth transition over the last year to become an effective turf miler, as this was his sixth win in 10 tries since trainer Steve Asmussen stretched him out.

He chased the front-running Stormy Going from the start, going past in mid-stretch and finishing in 1:35.25 over firm going, just 0.25 seconds off the 1998 track mark.

“He’s just an amazing, extremely versatile, fun horse,” Asmussen said afterward by text.

R. Great Adventure was third, Power Foot was fourth, and Guys Reward, the 5-2 second choice, was no threat when fifth.

Regally Ready earned $120,140 to lift his career bankroll to $1,606,806. The gelding was coming off a victory at Mountaineer Park, where he earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

The race formerly was known as the Franklin-Simpson Mile until being sponsored by WinStar Farm, home of the standout sire More Than Ready.

The $2 exacta (4-9) paid $60.80, the $1 trifecta (4-9-7) returned $197.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-9-7-1) was worth $89.03.

Richies Party Girl captures Ladies Sprint

One race later, another horse with WinStar connections, the 3-year-old Richies Party Girl ($10.60), defeated older rivals when rallying from just off the pace under Rafael Hernandez to capture the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint.

Owned in partnership by Richard Ravin and trainer Wesley Ward, Richies Party Girl finished the 6 1/2-furlong distance in 1:16.57, just 0.04 off the course record set Wednesday.

Richies Party Girl, by Any Given Saturday, was bred at WinStar.

Five fillies and mares were early scratches, leaving a field of 10.

The $2 exacta (8-1) paid $90.60, the $1 trifecta (8-1-4) returned $265, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-1-4-15) was worth $346.07.

I’m Already Sexy much the best in Ladies Turf

I’m Already Sexy ($4.20) added to a huge day for jockey Florent Geroux when thoroughly dominating the $197,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, the last of four stakes..

Third in the early going of the one-mile race, I’m Already Sexy easily made the lead into the far turn before going on to a 3 1/2-length triumph. Strike Charmer was second in a field of nine.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, I’m Already Sexy is a 4-year-old Ready’s Image filly with 7 wins from 16 career starts. She is owned by Hit the Board Stables, managed by Anna Seitz.

In the prior race on the Saturday card, Geroux won the richest race of the day, the Kentucky Turf Cup, aboard Suntracer.

I’m Already Sexy, the solid favorite, finished the one-mile distance in 1:35.25 over firm going, exactly the same time as Regally Ready finished the More Than Ready Mile three races earlier.

The $2 exacta (8-9) paid $24, the $1 trifecta (8-9-2) returned $64, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-9-2-12) was worth $56.19.

The all-stakes pick four (races 7-10) returned $128.40 for a 50-cent wager. The pool was $146,271.