One of the most prominent races of the upcoming Kentucky Downs meeting has been renamed the $200,000 More Than Ready Mile after the internationally successful stallion standing at WinStar Farm. The stakes race, which is expected to attract some of North America’s top milers, is part of a $1.7 million racing program on Saturday, September 13.
“It is an honor to involve WinStar Farm in the upcoming live season and to rename our prestigious one mile event the More Than Ready Mile,” said Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen. “More Than Ready has international acclaim as a stallion, so it is appropriate that he be identified with our unique one mile course, which is run with one long sweeping turn.”
More Than Ready stands at WinStar Farm, LLC in Versailles, Kentucky. Spanning over 2400 acres, WinStar is one of North America’s top Thoroughbred breeding and racing operations.
Already in 2014, More Than Ready has sired 26 stakes-placed runners and 11 stakes winners including Room Service, who won the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and the G1 American Oaks at Santa Anita. His current two-year-old crop and his 2014 yearling crop are arguably his best American-breds, having been conceived immediately following his first two Breeders’ Cup winners. His two-year-old stars are certainly serving notice, as he’s already sired eight debut winners; five in the U.S. and three in Europe. This has been a banner year for WinStar’s stallion roster, which includes other international sires such as Distorted Humor and Speightstown.
WinStar also stand the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, whose first two-year-olds are off to a phenomenal start. With the impressive victory last weekend by I Spent It in the Grade 2 Toyota Saratoga Special, Super Saver vaulted to the number-one spot on both the Juvenile Sire list and Freshman Sire list.
“WinStar is proud to be associated with such a lucrative and high profile day of racing at Kentucky Downs,” said Elliott Walden, President and CEO, WinStar Farm. “More Than Ready is a world class stallion, so he was an obvious choice as the namesake for this stakes race.”
Kentucky Downs will kick off their 2014 racing season on Saturday, September 6 with five live all-turf racing days and a total of nine stakes. For more information on promotions and special events, visit www.KentuckyDowns.com.
