Tom’s Ready makes the grade in Woody Stephens S. (G2)

Tom’s Ready became More Than Ready’s second stakes winner in two days with his incredible last-to-first run to capture the $500,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2) Saturday at Belmont Park.

Along with Zindaya’s win in the Intercontinental S. at Belmont on Friday, More Than Ready now has accounted for 160 black type winners and 69 graded stakes winners lifetime.

With the field blazing through a quarter-mile in :21.77 and a half in :44.40, Tom’s Ready was far back, last of the 12 3-year-olds. He began to make up ground with three furlongs to run and was in full flight at the head of the stretch while still some eight lengths off the lead. 

Joel Rosario took him very wide, then back inside, and finally between horses, emerging on top in the final sixteenth to complete the fantastic stretch run.

The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.38.

“I thought he’d be laying fourth or fifth and make that punch, but obviously he likes this one-turn stuff, laying back and moving strong like this,” winning trainer Dallas Stewart said. “I think we’ll keep him at one turn. He won’t run a lot more. He’s run hard all year. I’m going to freshen him up and point him to maybe the King’s Bishop at Saratoga and then the Breeders’ Cup (Sprint).” 

Stewart was alluding to Tom’s Ready’s basically non-stop campaign since his debut at Saratoga last August. Along the way, the dark bay colt owned by G M B Racing has collected a maiden win and runner-up finishes in the Louisiana Derby (G2), LeComte S. (G3) and Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs.

With Saturday’s win, Tom’s Ready upped his earnings to $577,220.