Front-Running Ready's Gal Holds On in Canadian

James T. Scatuorchio's Ready's Gal held off the determined late charge of odds-on favorite Arravale en route to a front-running victory in the $304,400 Canadian Stakes (Can-II) for fillies and mares on the Woodbine turf course Sunday.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Ready's Gal made it back-to-back graded stakes wins with her half-length triumph for jockey Ramon Dominguez, who rode her for the first time in her 16-race career. The 4-year-old More than Ready   filly won Monmouth Park's Matchmaker (gr. IIIT) in her previous start Aug. 6 under John Velazquez by an identical margin.

Ready's Gal got the about 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:46 2/5 over a firm course, making her two-length advantage at the furlong marker stand up over the 3-year-old Arravale.

The latter, sent off at 9-10, was making her first start against older fillies and mares after capturing the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) last month. Jose Valdivia Jr. made the trip from Southern California to be aboard Arravale, who raced second down the backstretch as the winner recorded opening splits of :23 and :47. Arravale pressed Ready's Gal on the turn for home and lost some ground in the stretch but came home strongly.

The first two finishers each carried 119 pounds.

Elle Runaway nosed second choice Ambitious Cat, the 121-pound high weight for third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. German group winner Almerita and Velvet Snow trailed in the field of six.

Ready's Gal earned her third graded stakes win of the year – she also took Tampa Bay Down's Hillsborough (gr. IIIT) – and the fourth of her career. Overall, the chestnut filly, who is out of the Nasty and Bold mare Exquisite Mistress, had seven wins, two second and a third-place finish and earnings of $609,603.

Fourth choice in the field, she paid $11.90, $5.70 and $3.70. Arravale returned $3 and $2.10. Elle Runaway was $3.80 to show.

R. Alex Rankin and Louis Wright bred Ready's Gal in Kentucky.

(Chart, Equibase)