The syndicate that stands Ready's Image at John T.L. Jones III’s Walmac Farm near Lexington has announced special incentives for regional breeders to send their mares to the 5-year-old son of More Than Ready during his second year at stud. Approved mares in out-of-state programs are eligible for free shipping to and from Lexington and up to 100 days of boarding at Terrazas Thoroughbreds at Overbrook Farm near Lexington. All routine veterinary work and hoof trimming also are included.
Ready’s Image has a fee of $8,500. He stood for $12,500 in 2009 and covered 65 mares.
“We believe in the horse, and we want to make sure he continues to have a good book,” said bloodstock consultant Alan Porter, who is reviewing the mares and helping decide which ones will be accepted into the program. “We’ve looked at all sorts of ways to attract mares, and figured some regional breeders who might not send their mares to Kentucky might do so now. We figure the average cost of the program will come to about $4,000 per mare, which will be the savings for the breeder from the $8,500 stud fee. The mares will return to their respective state to take advantage of the state-bred programs.
“We’re looking at mares that are stakes winners or stakes producer, or have good pedigrees that fit Ready’s Image. We’re going to take about 20 mares if we feel the quality is there, but we could take more.”
The breeding incentive program, which goes by Ready’s Image LLC, is being underwritten by James T. Scatuorchio, who raced Ready’s Image alone and then in partnership with Walmac. Scatuorchio is the major shareholder in the stallion.
“Walmac is not financially involved in the program but it’s being done in harmony with Walmac,” Porter said.
Ready’s Image, out of the winning Clever Trick mare Clever Phrase, won or placed in five of six starts at 2. He captured the Sanford (gr. II) and Tremont (gr. III) Stakes and placed in the Hopeful (gr. I) and Kentucky Cup Breeders’ Cup (gr. III) Stakes. At 3, he captured the Adjudicating Stakes at Belmont Park.
Ready’s Image’s first reported foal is a colt born Jan. 24 at David Hager II’s Idle Hour Farm near Lexington. The colt is out of the Pine Bluff mare Reserve Bid.