Regally Ready romps in Speaker's Cup

Regally Ready still has it. The winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint handled the dirt just fine Saturday when easily capturing the $100,000 West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Cup, the final race on the West Virginia Derby program at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Regally Ready waited to make his move at the quarter pole and did so with flair, winning off by himself by 12 1/2 lengths. Coalport was a distant second, followed by Present Course and Greengrassofyoming. The winner returned $7.80.

The race was moved off the turf and to dirt, leading to four scratches, which left eight older horses.

Regally Ready, a 7-year-old gelding by More Than Ready, finished a mile and 70 yards in 1:40.92 when trying dirt for just the second time in a lengthy career. Owned by Vinery Stables, he has won 14 of 35 starts and earned nearly $1.5 million. He is trained by Steve Asmussen, who only 30 minutes earlier won the West Virginia Derby for a record fifth time when Tapiture and Napravnik were up in the final jump to defeat Candy Boy.

The $2 exacta (7-11) paid $28.80, the $1 trifecta (7-11-12) returned $190.90, and the 50-cent superfecta (7-11-12-5) was worth $347.65.

Surface switch no problem for Sassy Kitten

Sassy Kitten made a smooth transition to dirt by capturing the $100,000 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup.

Transferred from the turf to the main track, the President’s Cup was contested by a field of eight fillies and mares after four were scratched. Sassy Kitten, equipped with blinkers for the first time when ridden by Alan Garcia, got a good trip from just off the pace, taking over at will from Soft Whisper before going on to a comfortable win over 21-1 shot Femme Fatale. The winner returned $9.60 after finishing a mile and 70 yards in 1:43.64 over a fast track.

Moment in Dixie was third as the 6-5 favorite while Soft Whisper faded to fourth.

Sassy Kitten, a 4-year-old bay filly by Kitten’s Joy, is a Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred. Based at the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky., with Mike Maker, she now has won 4 of 8 starts. The President’s Cup was her first start over a fast main track.

The $2 exacta (8-5) paid $180.80, the $1 trifecta (8-5-7) returned $268.60, and the 50-cent superfecta (8-5-7-3) was worth $1,265.25.