Copper Bullet takes Saratoga Special (G2) for More Than Ready

Copper Bullet has been working well since shipping to New York from Kentucky, and the results showed in Sunday’s $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) when the 2-year-old More Than Ready colt took the lead at the quarter pole en route to a four-length victory.

For More Than Ready, Copper Bullet is his 79th lifetime graded stakes winner and his seventh of 2017.

Copper Bullet came to Saratoga after breaking his maiden in his second start by eight lengths (which earned him a TDN Rising Star tag) at Churchill Downs, then finishing second in that track’s Bashford Manor S. (G3) after a troubled trip. With Sunday’s win, he is 2-2-0 in four starts and has earned $177,800 for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing LLC.

Said winning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. of Copper Bullet’s finish. ”When we got to the quarter pole, he went on for me, and even after the wire acted like he wanted to do more.”

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm and sold for $200,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale.