Breeders’ Cup 2020 Classic Profile: Title Ready
Breeders’ Cup Classic Profile: Title Ready
In the days leading up to the 37th Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, usracing.com will profile the horses in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (Saturday, Nov. 7).
If, like me, you eliminate no-hopers before trying to identify contenders, here’s No. 1 on your throw out list for the Classic. The only titles Title Ready will own is for longest odds and least chance to win.
Owner Charles Fipke, a Canadian prospector and geologist, became a multimillionaire by discovering diamonds in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories. He and trainer Dallas Stewart struck it rich with Forever Unbridled (2017 Distaff) and her dam, Lemons Forever (47-1 winner of the 2006 Kentucky Oaks). No way that happens with this horse, who’s 0-for-14 in stakes and a loser of 15 of his last 17 races.
Strange but true: Title Ready is the only one in the field with two wins at Keeneland. Then again, eight of his opponents never ran there. Handicapping insight: He won’t get his third on Saturday.
Worked at Churchill Downs on Oct. 31, going 4 furlongs in 48.40, 28th fastest of 162 at the distance.
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Jockey: TBD
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Owner: Charles Fipke
Career record: 22-4-6-4
Career earnings: $514,180
Top Equibase speed figure: 114
Pedigree: More Than Ready-Title Seeker, by Monarchos
Color: Dark bay
Running style: Closer
Notes: Stewart, a former assistant to D. Wayne Lukas, is a 61-year-old native of Mississippi who’s personable, articulate and funny . . . Stewart enriched exacta players with long-priced runners-up four times in the Triple Crown — Macho Again (40-1, 2008 Preakness); Golden Soul (34-1, 2013 Kentucky Derby); Commanding Curve (37-1, 2014 Derby) and Tale of Verve (28-1, 2015 Preakness). That’s a historic pari-mutuel grand slam . . . Fipke owned Golden Soul and Tale of Verve.
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