Ready Signal captured Gulfstream Park’s $75,000 Powder Break S. to give her sire More Than Ready his second stakes winner on the day, which was topped by Room Service’s dead heat victory in the Grade 1 Ashland S. at Keeneland.
Ready Signal came from last to post a 1 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf contest, overcoming early trouble and closing from far back to win with a flourish. She covered the distance in an excellent 1:39.90 on the firm turf.
The victory prompted owner/trainer Amy Tarrant to keep the 5-year-old mare in training after previously contemplating retiring her.
“Normally, she loses a little weight and doesn’t eat as much after a race. But this time, she kept her weight on; she was eating and bossing all of us around,” Tarrant said. “I said, ‘I better make hay while the sun shines with this mare.’ She showed it today. She’s a true professional.”
“I was worried (when jockey Ramsey Zimmerman steadied Ready Signal at the start). My heart went to my feet. After that he gave her a great ride. I told him that she’ll give him everything she has because she has so much heart,” Tarrant said.
“I saw everybody left the gate like crazy, so I just wanted to ease back. I didn’t really want to jerk her back. Unfortunately, I had to, because it got a little tight for a second,” said Zimmerman. “I eased her up in the inside and just rode a smart grass race and bailed out towards the outside and she went on to win down the lane. It was the easiest thing I’ve done all day.”
Tarrant said Ready Signal will be shipped to her Ocala farm Saturday for a few weeks before preparing for a spring and summer campaign in New York.
Ready Signal, also bred by Tarrant at her Hardacre Farm, has now earned $213,694. Her dam, Marwood, was a four-time stakes winner of $354,355.
