Driving hard, Regally Ready and jockey Corey Nakatani captured the 17th running of the Grade III Twin Spires Turf Sprint by a length and a quarter over Bridgetown at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.
The 4-year old More Than Ready gelding, owned by Vinery Stables, ran the five furlongs in :56.57.
Nakatani credited conditioner Steve Asmussen for the victory.
"I've just go so much confidence now when I ride for Steve," he said. "He and his team are such a good bunch of horesemen. They give you good horses and they put them in the right spots."
With the performance, the connections are pointing toward November's Breeders' Cup, to be held again under the Twin Spires.
Asmussen said, "He has run quite a bit recently, so now we need to map out a plan that gets him back here for the fall."
For the win, Regally Ready paid $8.80, $4.40 and $3. John Velazquez and Bridgetown returned $4 and $2.80. It was three and a quarter lengths back to favorite Chamberlain Bridge with Jamie Theriot aboard, who paid $2.60 to backers.
