Title Ready can put it all together in Northern Spur

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The $150,000 Northern Spur led by Title Ready signals the start of the stakes action on Saturday’s closing-day card at Oaklawn Park. It goes as the eighth race and it will be followed by the Count Fleet, Oaklawn Handicap, and Arkansas Derby.

The stakes are part of the Racing Festival of the South, a program of $3.5 million in major races run over the final week of the meet. The Northern Spur is for 3-year-olds, and a group of eight signed on for the 1 1/16-mile stakes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Title Ready, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 90-89-68

◗ Title Ready is based at Oaklawn, where he won an allowance route on Feb. 1. In his last start he ran fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 17. He set the pace to the later stages, and finished five lengths behind Magnum Moon, who runs later on the card in the Arkansas Derby.

“I thought he ran well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I thought he ran solid.”

Asmussen said Title Ready is still developing.

“He keeps a little in reserve on me yet,” Asmussen said. “He’s a wink and a nod kind of guy: ‘That was all right, wasn’t it?’ Yes, that was all right. You can do better, but that was all right.”

◗ Title Ready will break from the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr.

“He needs to be put in the race,” Asmussen said. “I think that that’s part of his personality. If you let him take it easy, he will take it easy. He’s extremely laid back.”

◗ Owned and bred by Charles Fipke, Title Ready’s second dam is champion Personal Ensign.

Ike, by Paynter
Beyers: 79-75

◗ He won his debut in a maiden special weight sprint Feb. 11 at Santa Anita, then shipped to Arkansas, the base of his owner, Westrock Stables. Ike was third in a first-level allowance here won by the quick Mitole.

“He hooked a buzzsaw,” said trainer Bob Baffert.

◗ The Northern Spur will mark the first start around two turns for Ike.

“I think he needs it,” Baffert said. “He’s a horse that’s slowly developing. He’s a two-turn horse.”

Higher Power, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-72

◗ He was an allowance route winner in January,

“I was very pleased with the opening race of his 3-year-old season,” said trainer Donnie Von Hemel. “He had to overcome a little bit of traffic early in the race, was able to gain position turning for home, and looked like he knew what to do out there.”

◗ He is a half-brother to Oaklawn Handicap winner Alternation.