More Than Ready’s ultra-classy Regally Ready showed his style once again in Thursday’s $75,000 Big Bear S. at Santa Anita, winning by a half-length for his third consecutive stakes score and ninth overall in his illustrious career.
Regally Ready has helped push More Than Ready’s 2014 progeny earnings past the $6 million mark. The 7-year-old is one of seven horses that have career earnings in excess of $1.5 million by their sire.
Contested at one mile on the main track, Regally Ready was hung four-wide going around the first turn, but settled into a good spot just a few lengths off the lead down the backstretch. Rosie Napravnik urged her mount on around the final bend to pull even with leader Blue Tone at the top of the lane.
Despite challengers bearing down in the stretch, Regally Ready held sway to score his fourth stakes win of 2014
“This is such a cool horse,” said Napravnik. “He’s done it every different way for me. (Trainer) Steve (Asmussen) has done such an incredible job with him and has kept him going into his older years and doing everything with him from sprint, to dirt, to long.
“I just sat on him and he grabbed a hold of me at the half mile pole and I had to say ‘easy buddy, we’re not ready yet.’ I had a ton of horse.”
“This is just an amazing horse,” echoed Asmussen. “He’s having a great year and horses like this just make you love racing.”
Regally Ready improved his overall mark to 37-16-2-6. With the winner’s share of $47,700, he increased his earnings to $1,654,506. He is owned by Santa Anita track president Tom Ludt, who races under the name Vinery Stables.
