Tom's Ready Set for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

GMB Racing's Tom's Ready was doing well Oct. 2, the morning after defeatng champion sprinter Runhappy in the Ack Ack Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and is set to make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

           

"He cooled out good and came back from the race really well," said trainer Dallas Stewart's assistant Bentley Combs. "(He) ate up well (Sunday) morning and he walked around real fresh (Sunday) morning, too. It looks like we'll keep on going with him."

Nearly 30 minutes after the son of More Than Ready   won the Ack Ack, the Stewart barn was well represented at Belmont Park when Forever Unbridled won the Beldame (gr. I) punching her ticket to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

"Everyone's happy this morning," Combs said. "Good energy is a good way to put it. I don't know how else to describe it. We're happy for both of them. I think Runhappy ran a nice race, but I think we can beat him again."

            

Stewart, who was on his way back from saddling the now dual grade I winner Forever Unbridled in New York, spoke highly of both horses' efforts.

            

"They came back real good," Stewart said. "Now we're just trying to get to the Breeders' Cup, so we'll be training up, hopefully do a good job, and go get the money."

           

The Ack Ack was the second graded stakes victory for Tom's Ready, who won the Woody Stephens (gr. III) at Belmont Park June 11. Prior to that he was 12th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). The Beldame was Forever Unbridled's third graded stakes triumph this year. She entered her 4-year-old campaign with wins in the Houston Ladies Classic (gr. III) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 30 and the Apple Blossom (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park April 15.