Title Ready, King Abner Face Off in Steve Sexton Mile
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Photo: Coady Photography
Title Ready winning an allowance race at Oaklawn Park
Title Ready will attempt to run down several speed horses in the April 28 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park. Ten older horses have been signed up for a shot at the $300,000 purse.
Title Ready is a stalker for owner-breeder Charles Fipke who has hit the board in all three of his previous efforts at eight furlongs. From November-March he has been running at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he was second in last fall’s Discovery Stakes (G3) and runner-up again in the March 9 Stymie, missing less than a length to graded stakes winner Vino Rosso.
A 4-year-old son of More than Ready , Title Ready is seeking his first added-money victory. Title Ready is trained by Racing Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who won this race last year with Fipke homebred Bee Jersey and will be looking to win the race for a fourth time Sunday. Last year Bee Jersey followed his Steve Sexton Mile score with a victory in the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.
In Sunday's race, King Abner invades from the West Coast, where the California-bred was last seen finishing a close second to Edwards Going Left in the Tiznow Stakes for state-breds at a mile after prompting the pace the entire way. With speed lined up outside him here, King Abner will likely be placed forwardly early. He has won twice with a pair of seconds in four efforts at a mile. He is a son of the speedy Hansen.
Minister of Soul and Mocito Rojo figure to be the ones to pressure King Abner early. Minister of Soul won the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap at Turf Paradise earlier this year on the front end and came back to run second in a stakes at Sunland Park. He most recently contested the Sensational Star for Cal-breds at Santa Anita on the downhill course but weakened to finish fourth. He will be stretching out to a mile for the first time here.
Mocito Rojo comes off a front-running victory at Delta Downs and has hit the board 17 times in 21 starts—including 13 wins. He also has an excellent mark of four wins in seven tries at a mile and should be able to work out a stalking trip from post 9.
Lone Star Park, Sunday, April 28, 2019, Race 7Entries: Steve Sexton Mile S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Title Ready (KY)
Richard E. Eramia
119
Steven M. Asmussen
5/2
2
2G's Turn (KY)
C.J. McMahon
117
Mindy J. Willis
30/1
3
3Phat Man (KY)
Adam Beschizza
119
Joe Sharp
10/1
4
4King Abner (CA)
Tyler Baze
119
Philip D'Amato
3/1
5
5Analyze This Jet (KY)
Sasha Risenhoover
117
Terry Eoff
30/1
6
6Air Strike (KY)
Joseph Talamo
119
Philip D'Amato
10/1
7
7Forevamo (FL)
Iram Vargas Diego
121
Steven M. Asmussen
20/1
8
8Minister of Soul (CA)
Lindey Wade
119
Esteban Martinez
6/1
9
9Mocito Rojo (KY)
Filemon T. Rodriguez
119
Shane Wilson
9/2
10
10Shotgun Kowboy (OK)
David Cabrera
119
C. R. Trout
12/1
