More Than Ready completed a stakes-winning double in New York on Saturday when Black Stetson took command of the Bridgetown Stakes LR at Aqueduct.

The lightly-raced 3yo sprinter broke clear from the barrier and dug in when challenged on the corner.  He lifted again in the straight for a half-length victory over Nootka Sound (Lonhro) at the end of 1200m on turf.

Black Stetson is the 183rd stakes winner by More Than Ready.

Earlier at Aqueduct, More Than Ready filly Uni struck again at black-type level in the Plenty of Grace Stakes LR.  The French import had won last year’s Prix Matchem LR and Sands Point Stakes Gr.2 at Belmont before resuming with a stellar first-up victory in a course-record 1.33.42s for 1600m

She is trained by Chad Brown who prepared More Than Ready filly Rushing Fall to win the Appalachian Stakes Gr.2 at Keeneland last weekend.

Black Stetson, a Parx maiden winner in January, is also heading in the right direction for Ten Strike Racing and trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero.  Passed-in at the 2017 Ocala 2YO Sale, he is the first foal out of two-time winner Ida Clark (Speightstown).

Leading rider Junior Alvarado expected a brave performance first time aboard Black Stetson after speaking to fellow jockey Kendrick Carmouche.  “Kendrick said he was a fighter.  I had that in the back of my mind.  I just wanted to put him on the lead and be comfortable.”

More Than Ready enjoyed another successful Inglis Easter Sale with 7 yearlings averaging $282,000 last week and he presented a promising newcomer at Terang on Sunday.

His 2yo colt Esthetic was well-schooled by trainer Ciaran Maher and that helped on a Heavy 8 where riders scouted far and wide for the best lane in the Bet365 Maiden Plate (1000m).  “He’s come through with flying colours first-up,” jockey Linda Meech offered.  “He’s got a brain and was nice and fit for a test on this track.”

Esthetic cost $270,000 at the 2017 NZB 2YO Sale at Karaka and is bred and built to go further for Yulong Investments.  He’s the first foal for Queensland Oaks Gr.1 winner Quintessential (Fast ‘n’ Famous).

Yulong owner Zhang Yuesheng also races More Than Ready’s Irish-based filly Blackgold Fairy who won her maiden by 6 lengths in February.  She just missed black-type when fourth home behind boom colt Mendelssohn in the Patton Stakes LR at Dundalk last month.

BLACK STETSON