Brought to you by Tropical Racing
Title Ready captured the G3 Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds Jan. 16, 2021. Lou Hodges/Hodges Photography
Sunday’s Closing Day at Belmont at the Big A to prompt mandatory payouts
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Charles Fipke’s Kentucky homebred Title Ready has been the textbook definition of a class horse throughout his 34-race career. On Saturday, the 7-year-old son of More Than Ready will seek his second graded stakes victory in the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso going a one-turn mile at Belmont at the Big A.
Title Ready captured last year’s Grade 3 Louisiana at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots for trainer Dallas Stewart before an international endeavor in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, finishing a distant 11th to Mystic Guide. Still in search of his first victory this season, Title Ready completed the trifecta in the Grade 2 Alysheba on May 6 at Churchill Downs behind Grade 1-winners Olympiad and Happy Saver.
Initially campaigned by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Title Ready made his debut for Stewart in July 2020 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Keeneland, which he won by a head.
“He’s an old veteran. A consistent training horse. He’s been a very fun horse to be around, so we’re trying to give him a shot in there,” Stewart said.
Title Ready is out of the Monarchos mare Title Seeker, who also produced graded stakes winner Seeking the Title – the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire Seeking the Soul, both of whom were also trained by Stewart.
“It’s a tried and true family. They like to run,” Stewart said. “He’s got a great pedigree and he’s been a solid horse from a solid family so it’s pretty exciting.”
Stewart has tasked Emma-Jayne Wilson with piloting Title Ready, who breaks from post 4.
“She does a lot of riding for Mr. Fipke and he wanted to give her another opportunity and I thought it was a good idea. She’s a very good rider,” Stewart said.
The Kelso offers the top-four finishers a free nomination and starting fee in the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile slated for December 3 at the Big A. Stewart expressed interest in bringing Title Ready back for the Cigar Mile, the last Grade 1 in New York for the calendar year, should he put up a strong effort.
Sunday’s Closing Day at Belmont at the Big A to prompt mandatory payouts
Closing Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on Sunday will feature mandatory payouts for all pools. The Empire Showcase Day card celebrates the best of the Empire State, featuring an all state-bred card offering eight stakes races worth $1.6 million, topped by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff.
The 10-race card, with a first post time of 12:35 p.m. Eastern, will close the curtain on the 28-day Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Live racing will remain at the Big A for the 29-day Aqueduct fall meet offering 33 stakes, 10 of them graded events, worth a total of $6.375 million. The fall meet will run from Friday, November 4 through Saturday, December 31.
