Ready to Jam solved a season of seconditis with a victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Autumn Days Stakes for older female turf sprinters at Aqueduct.
Sitting a sweet trip under Junior Alvarado, Ready to Jam rallied from midpack to outfinish a late-running Johanny to win by three-quarters of a length. It was another half-length back to Lifelovenlaughter in third.
Ready to Jam, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready owned by Gary Barber and D J Stable and trained by Mark Casse, won for the first time in six starts this year and the third time from 14 starts overall. She had finished second in three of five starts this year, including twice in stakes. Ready to Jam was foaled and raised at Hidden Brook Farm in Paris, Kentucky and was also sold by Hidden Brook at the 2022 Keeneland September sale.
“I expected her to run well here today and I’m really tickled that she got the win,” Shane Tripp, assistant to trainer Casse, told NYRA publicity. “She had a great ride from Junior and that made all the difference. It’s an important win for her – she’s a beautiful More Than Ready mare – and I’m happy for Mark and the owners.”
Alvarado, riding Ready to Jam for the first time, had the 4-year-old filly in fifth, but only three lengths off the pace established by Dontlookbackatall. Alvarado rallied Ready to Jam three-wide turning for home and she outfinished Johanny, a 23-1 shot who was rallying from seventh under Kendrick Carmouche.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Alvarado said. “Last time, she was close to the pace and was chasing the speed at Kentucky Downs, so I figured we’d get out of there forward and see where she puts me. We ended up having a good position the whole way around. She finished very powerful today.”
Ready to Jam covered the six furlongs in 1:08.77 and returned $18.34 as the fourth choice.
-edited from www.drf.com
