Tom's Ready appears to be just that ahead of Kelso Handicap

ELMONT, N.Y. – Forever Unbridled wasn’t the only horse who ran well for trainer Dallas Stewart on Travers Day at Saratoga.

About two hours after Forever Unbridled defeated Songbird in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, Tom’s Ready, sent off at odds of 44-1, finished a solid third in the Grade 1 Forego behind the champion sprinter Drefong.

Tom’s Ready has returned to New York, where on Saturday he will take on the heavily favored Sharp Azteca in the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso Handicap.

Tom’s Ready recorded the biggest victory of his career at Belmont Park in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day in 2016. That day, he rallied from last under Joel Rosario. After Tom’s Ready finished ninth in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga last year, Stewart elected to run him at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Ack Ack, which he won.

This year, coming off a strong performance in the Forego, Stewart wants to give Tom’s Ready a shot at a more prestigious race with a bigger purse.

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“He’s just doing really well,” Stewart said from Kentucky. “I know he likes that track; a mile is good for him. I think the horse is progressing nicely.”

Tom’s Ready could be compromised by a slow pace in the Kelso, which drew only six horses. Sharp Azteca appears to be the primary speed, with Bird Song seemingly the only one capable of challenging him early.

However, Sharp Azteca did finish fourth behind Tom’s Ready in the Woody Stephens.

Sharp Azteca, trained by Jorge Navarro, is coming off a 7 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 30. He is 4 for 6 at a mile, including a 4 1/2-length score in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap to begin his 4-year-old season in February.

Sharp Azteca is the 124-pound highweight. He will be conceding seven pounds to Tom’s Ready, Divining Rod, and Tommy Macho, and eight to Bird Song and Ross.

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