NEWS
Ready Set seeks second graded win in Discovery
Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008 4:02 PM
by Tim Nichols
With one Grade 3 victory already this season, Ready Set will be part of an eight-horse field on Saturday contesting the $100,000 Discovery Handicap (G3) for three-year-olds at Aqueduct.
Ready Set will carry high weight of 118 pounds, spotting his seven rivals between two and five pounds each in the 1 1/8-mile race on the main track.
Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, the Touch Gold colt won the West Virginia Derby (G3) on August 2 at Mountaineer Race Track by a head over Discovery challenger Web Gem.
Following an unplaced finish in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2), Ready Set finished second by a nose to Atoned in the Pegasus Stakes (G3) on October 24 at the Meadowlands for trainer Michael Matz in his previous start.
Prior to his triumph at Mountaineer, Ready Set finished third in the Barbaro Stakes (G3) on July 13 at Delaware Park.
With three wins from four starts this season, dual stakes winner Wishful Tomcat will try to add a graded stakes victory to his burgeoning record.
The Tactical Cat ridgling enters off a pair of stakes wins at Belmont Park. Wishful Tomcat won the Floral Park Stakes on September 24 by a head over Discovery rival Big Truck and the John’s Gold Stakes on October 23.
Trained by Gary Contessa for owner Winter Park Partners, Wishful Tomcat has won four of his last five starts. The lone blemish came in his graded stakes debut in the Pennsylvania Derby when he finished last in a field of 13.
Big Truck seeks his first win in five starts since winning the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 15. The win secured a place in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), where he subsequently finished 18th.
Trained by Barclay Tagg for owners Eric Fein and Barry Elberg, the Hook and Ladder colt enters off an unplaced finish in the John’s Gold.
"It's the last big three-year-old race around here and we'd like him to run in it," Tagg said. "He's been doing real well and let's say we're cautiously optimistic."
Also entered is Lieutenant Ron, owend by Gilman Hallenbeck and West Point Thoroughbreds.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the Graeme Hall horse will make his first start longer than seven furlongs. He has three wins by a combined 20 1/2 lengths in four career starts.
"He might be one of the most talented horses I've ever trained," McLaughlin said. "We think he wants to go longer."
Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY assistant editor
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Wishful Tomcat (Tactical Cat), Ramon A. Dominguez, 114, Gary C. Contessa;
2. Web Gem (Fusaichi Pegasus), Rajiv Maragh, 114, Nicholas P. Zito;
3. That'srightofficer (Officer), Edgar S. Prado, 115, Richard E. Schosberg;
4. Ready Set (Touch Gold), Jose Lezcano, 118, Michael R. Matz;
5. Big Truck (Hook and Ladder), Eibar Coa, 116, Barclay Tagg;
6. Coach Shaw (Victory Gallop), Joe Bravo, 113, Mark A. Hennig;
7. Premium Gold (Mineshaft), Richard Migliore, 114, John C. Kimmel; and
8. Lieutenant Ron (Graeme Hall), Alan Garcia, 116, Kiaran P. McLaughlin.
