Readyshakego Grabs the Green at Gulfstream

Royal Delta’s dominating victory in the $100,000 Sabin (G3) was a tough act to follow, especially in a field of $35,000 maiden claimers, but Readyshakego certainly put on a good show of his own in Sunday’s 11th race.

The 2-year-old son of Shakespeare pulled off a 60-1 upset in his career debut in a somewhat shocking performance in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. He broke flat-footed from his outside post position to get away from the starting gate well behind his 11 rivals, presumably losing all chance of winning. However, Cristian Demuro, the leading Italian jockey who has made a solid impression while riding sparingly at the current meeting, persevered with John Elkins’ homebred colt.

Readyshakego made steady progress to enter contention on the turn into the homestretch, only to be steadied twice in the stretch before recovering late to score a neck victory.

“We were quite sure he’d like the grass, but it surprised me after he got left in the gate that he was able to maintain. He got an excellent ride,” trainer Jessica Campitelli said.

Campitelli had been impressed with Demuro’s rides at Gulfstream and asked him to work Readyshakego on Feb. 10 in preparation for his debut.

“The work was impressive. He got along with him,” Campitelli said. “We are so far ahead of the game if we can get a rider who has 100 percent confidence in our horse. He went into the race thinking he was going to win the race and the horse responded to him.”

Campitelli said he breathed a sigh of relief that Readyshakego wasn’t claimed out of his winning debut but that starting him at the claiming level was the right thing to do for his development.

“Mr. Elkins was receptive to me to have this horse start low and gain experience,” said Campitelli, who saddled Mystic Love for a stakes victory against the boys in the Dania Beach on Dec. 15. “He won’t run him for a claiming price again. He’s had a couple people call him trying to buy him, but he won’t sell, because he bred him.”