More Than Ready to run

By Elaine Belval

It’s September, and the 2-year-old racing season is really in full swing. Saratoga and Del Mar showcased a number of high-class stakes and maiden races and every handicapper is sure they know who the next Derby winner is. Recently, More Than Ready has made his presence felt in the division: the long running Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity on September 11 was won by Major Gain, a son of More than Ready; and yesterday (September 18), the Grade 3 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on turf was taken by Pluck, another son of the Vinery-based sire while the Grade 3 Natalma runner-up at the same track was the filly More Than Real.

More than Ready was an incredibly brilliant 2-year-old, winning five of seven starts, including the WHAS-11 S. at Churchill Downs when it was run on the Kentucky Derby undercard. More than Ready returned to next year to compete in the 2000 Kentucky Derby. While the Derby distance proved too far for him, More than Ready did win the G1 King’s Bishop at seven furlongs. More than Ready proved a sound and durable runner, with 17 starts in two years of racing and over $1 million in earnings.

He retired to stud and proceeded to stand in both the US and shuttle to Australia. Australia is under the “Danehill influence.” Their leading sire is Redoute’s Choice, a son of Danehill. The winner of the 2010 Golden Slipper (the world’s most expensive two-year-old race) was a filly named Crystal Lily, by Stratum – a freshman sire by Redoute’s Choice. But in 2009 and 2008 the winners were both by More than Ready (Phelan Ready and Sebring). Both were named champion 2-year-old in Australia. More than Ready is has proved to be one of the best sires for Danehill-line mares, with five SWs already from the cross (three being G1 winners). More than Ready is now one of the most expensive sires in Australia. He stands at Vinery in New South Wales in Australia and his 2010 fee is $121,000.

More than Ready has been no slouch here in the US, either, with more than 30 unrestricted SWs in North America from six crops of racing age. He had 10 SWs from his first crop of 61 foals (16% SWs to foals). They included the GSW Ready’s Gal and SWs Ready to Live and Ready Ruler. He ranked sixth on the Freshman Sire List (behind such sires as Successful Appeal, Giant’s Causeway and Fusaichi Pegasus).

More than Ready had $2.5 million in progeny earnings in 2005 and since 2006 has had over $5 million. More than Ready currently has $4.5 million in progeny earnings in 2010. Equally impressive, his leading earner (SW Custom for Carlos) is responsible for only $170,000 of that. More than Ready has 10 SWs in 2010, with five GSWs. One of those GSWs is the aforementioned recent winner Major Gain. In his second lifetime start, Major Gain won the 8 furlong (on Polytrack) G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity for owner-breeder Gary and Mary West and trainer Wayne Catalano. Also this weekend, the 2-year-old Pluck, stakes placed in his last start at Monmouth, became a Graded SW in Canada on turf. In Australia, recent SWs include the 3-year-old filly More Strawberries, who won a G2 yesterday (September 18) and 4-year-old filly More Joyous,who won a G2 on September 11.

In other words, More than Ready’s best runners win on dirt, turf, and the artificial surface. They run at 2 and continue to progress, winning at 3 and 4. Though his progeny are best at 9 furlongs or less, he has had a handful of runners at classic distances. More than Ready has proven to be a consistent source of versatile, tough and durable runners.

More than Ready stood at Vinery in Kentucky in 2010 for $30,000 live foal.

(Elaine Belval is senior pedigree analyst at WTC.)