Retama: Ready Ruler looks right

Ready Ruler will return to the turf course of his biggest career win for the $40,000 Jim Bowie Stakes at Retama Park.

A 7 1/2-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds, the Jim Bowie drew a well-matched field of eight, including stakes winners Major League and War Bridle.

Ready Ruler became a stakes winner last year at Retama, when he captured the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven. Since the race, he has been second in the $100,000 Middle-ground Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park, third in the $100,000 Bourbon County at Keeneland, and third in the $42,000 Awad at Arlington Park.

Ready Ruler made his most recent start at Arlington and was a wire-to-wire winner of a 1 1/16-mile allowance July 31. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Adrian Ramos.

Whiskey for Me has won 5 of 8 career starts and will make his stakes debut in the Jim Bowie. Trainer Cody Autrey, whose last two stakes starters have been winners, both at Louisiana Downs, has long had the Jim Bowie circled on the calendar for Whiskey for Me. Whiskey for Me last raced July 8 and was a neck winner over Chicago Gold, who returned in his next start to win an optional-claiming race at Retama. Jeremy Beasley will ride Whiskey for Me.

Others of interest in the field include Justa Red Bird, runner-up in the $200,000 Pin Oak Stud USA Stakes in May, and Mr. Shock and Awe, who will add blinkers for trainer Danny Pish.