Tourist fires off long layoff in More Than Ready

FRANKLIN, Ky. – WinStar Farm representatives happily presented themselves the winner’s trophy Saturday after their homebred Tourist made a flashy comeback in giving jockey Florent Geroux his fifth winner of the day in the $300,000 More Than Ready, the opening-day highlight of the rich Kentucky Downs meet.

Always on the lead, Tourist won the one-mile race by 3 3/4 lengths over Undrafted when making his first start since well-beaten last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Bill Mott trains for the partnership of WinStar, Wachtel Stable, and Gary Barber.

“He’d been training extremely well up at Saratoga,” said Sean Tugel, bloodstock representative for WinStar. “We’re very excited to have him back.”

Tourist, a 4-year-old colt by Tiznow, returned $6.20 after finishing in 1:36.17 over a firm turf. He now has won 4 of 10 starts, with this being his first triumph in open stakes company. He was second in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington last August leading into the BC Mile.

Geroux, meanwhile, was capping an unforgettable day. The French native also won the other two opening-day stakes, the Kentucky Downs Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies, after having won two earlier races.

Skyring finished third and Departing was fourth in a field reduced to seven starters by three early scratches.

The $2 exacta (1-4) paid $19.60, the $1 trifecta (1-4-3) returned $100.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-4-3-6) was worth $27.40.

Kentucky Downs purses, fueled in large part by “historical racing” machines, are projected to average more than $1 million per card during a five-day meet. The remaining dates are Sept. 10, 12, 16, and 19.