More Than Ready bay secures first stakes. (Chelsea Durand)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gary Barber and D. J. Stable’s Ready to Jam closed well under Junior Alvarado and held off a late challenge from Johanny to win Sunday’s $150,000 Autumn Days, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the 4-year-old More Than Ready bay secured her first stakes score in her eighth attempt while also entering the winner’s circle for the first time since last July. Ready to Jam had hit the board in 4-of-5 starts this year and entered off a one-length second in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer on August 30 at Kentucky Downs.
“She’s been doing good here and the weather has been nice this fall. I expected her to run well here today and I’m really tickled that she got the win,” said Shane Tripp, assistant to Casse. “She had a great ride from Junior and that made all the difference. It’s an important win for her – she’s a beautiful More Than Ready mare and I’m happy for Mark and the owners.”
Ready to Jam exited post 2 alertly and settled into fifth position as Dontlookbackatall led while pressured by Toupie, with Do Gooder and Lifelovenlaughter not far behind through an opening quarter-mile in 22.51 seconds over the firm turf.
Alvarado saved ground along the rail in the turn while maintaining fifth position as the order remained unchanged up front. After Dontlookbackatall marked the half-mile in 44.86, Alvarado tipped Ready to Jam out from her inside position, and she prepared for her bid between Toupie and Lifelovenlaughter.
“I had a great trip, stuck behind the speed today,” Alvarado said. “Turning for home, I had a seam, and she was very willing to go in that tight spot. She was just very straightforward and professional today. She finished up very nice.”
Ready to Jam rallied strongly inside the eighth pole and quickly spurted to the front as Dontlookbackatall faded from the lead along the inside of the compact group. Johanny, following five furlongs in 56.67, launched a rapid bid from farther back under Kendrick Carmouche, but it was too late as Ready to Jam powered to the wire to post the three-quarter-length victory in a final time of 1:08.77.
Lifelovenlaughter finished third another half-length back, with Cavalier Cupid closing from last for fourth. Do Gooder, Toupie, Danse Macabre, Rileys Redemption and Dontlookbackatall completed the order of finish. Truth and Beauty and main track-only entrants St. Benedicts Prep and Roswell were scratched.
READY TO JAM hits play down the stretch, winning the Autumn Days Stakes at 8-1 under @JuniorandKellyA for trainer @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/AL8rSenLYv
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) October 19, 2025
Alvarado, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said he hoped Ready to Jam could be forwardly-placed based on her close-up second last out under Irad Ortiz, Jr. at Kentucky Downs.
“Last time, she was close to the pace and was chasing the speed at Kentucky Downs, so I figured we’d get out of there forward and see where she puts me,” Alvarado said. “We ended up having a good position the whole way around. She finished very powerful today.”
Carmouche said the Eoin Harty-trained Johanny was game in just her second stakes attempt.
“I followed Junior the whole race. He split in, I split out, and my filly ran great,” Carmouche said. “No excuses for her. Running against these types of horses, I thought that was a pretty good run. They said make one run, and that was a one-run thing.”
Ready to Jam, a $320,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the Grade 1-placed Sky Mesa mare Third Dawn. Bred in Kentucky by John Gardiner, she banked $82,500 in victory while improving her overall record to 14-3-4-3 and returning $18.34 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Wednesday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight race-card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
