Charles E. Fipke's Title Ready (More Than Ready), winner of the GIII Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 16, is targeting the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 27. It will mark the third consecutive year Fipke and trainer Dallas Stewart have had a runner in the $12-million race. Their champion Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) finished fifth in 2018 and their GISW Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) was eighth in 2019. The 2020 edition of the Dubai World Cup was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally trained by Steve Asmussen to placings in the GII Indiana Derby, GIII Discovery S., and GIII Steve Sexton Mile. S., the 6-year-old Title Ready has been in Stewart's barn for the past year and has since added a Keeneland allowance win as well as a third in the GII Hagyard Fayette S.
“We ran him in the [GI] Breeders' Cup and there wasn't enough pace, so he really ran pretty good that day,” said Stewart. “I probably ran him back a little quick in the [GI] Clark at Churchill, but I think he's good enough for those, so I gave him a little time after that and took him down to the Fair Grounds. Then he won in New Orleans and he looked really good that day. He's just doing great and he looks awesome.”
Like both Forever Unbridled and Seeking the Soul, Title Ready is a homebred for Fipke. The grandson of Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign (Private Account) marked his first graded stakes success with the Louisiana victory.
“He's training great and is a wonderful horse to have in the barn,” added Stewart, “so I really wanted to give him a shot in this race.”
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