Ready for Rye Set for Spectacular Bid

Chalk Racing’s Ready for Rye turned in an eye-catching victory at Belmont Park on Oct. 11, winning by seven lengths as the odds-on favorite. The maiden-breaking triumph, as impressive as it was that day, has been looking better and better as time goes by.

The gelded son of City Zip finished well clear of second-place finisher Mawthooq, who came back to break his maiden by 10 ½ lengths. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Mawthooq is regarded as one of the most talented entrants in Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream. Furyofthenorsemen, who finished 5 ½ lengths behind Mawthooq in third on Oct. 11, came back to break his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths at Aqueduct on Nov. 10.

Off that key race, Ready for Rye figures to get a lot of support at the Gulfstream windows Saturday when he takes on 10 rivals in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes, a six-furlong race for newly turned 3-year-olds.     

The Kentucky-bred colt kept some pretty solid company in his Sept. 1 debut at Saratoga, as well. After a rough start, he finished second behind the Todd Pletcher-trained Carpe Diem, who came back to capture the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.

“I don’t think the trouble cost him the race. I think it was just a matter of him needing the race,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He came back with a really good performance in his second start. I think the first race was a race he needed and he got experience out of it.”

The experience served him well in his return, in which he opened up a clear early lead and was never seriously challenged.

“It was such a good effort the first time out that we knew that the horse would make a jump forward in his second race,” Albertrani said. “It was a very good performance and when Todd’s horse won that race at Keeneland, it gave us more confidence.”

Javier Castellano, who has been aboard for Ready for Rye’s first two starts, has the return mount for the Spectacular Bid.

Tizcano is scheduled for a return visit to Gulfstream, where he debuted with a 6 ½-length victory in June. Subsequently privately purchased by Rockingham Ranch, the son of Tiznow has raced on the West Coast in his next three starts, including a third-place finish in the off-the-turf Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 and an allowance victory over Del Mar’s Polytrack surface on Nov. 21.   Trainer Peter Miller named Paco Lopez to ride the Kentucky-bred colt.

It’s Not Me, who was claimed by White Wabbit Wacing and trainer Jorge Navarro out of a $16,000 claiming maiden race, will seek his fourth straight win the Spectacular Bid. The son of D’wildcat captured the Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West in his most recent start.

Dale Romans-trained Toasting Master, who is coming off back-to-back wins at Churchill Downs; Big Family, whom trainer Gustavo Delgado saddled for a sharp debut victory at Gulfstream Park West in October; and Bluegrass Singer, a recent allowance winner who was cross-entered in the Mucho Macho Man by trainer Marcus Vitali; are among the most highly regarded contenders.

Hero of Humor, Purim’s Gold, Morgans Harbour, Bluegrass Angus and Barbados round out the field.

Source: Gulfstream Park