Last May, Red Carpet Ready provided Patrick Lewis with the thrill of a lifetime when she prevailed in a lengthy stretch battle to win the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Oaks day. That victory, which Lewis says was “the pinnacle of everything” he’s accomplished in racing thus far, was the last time Red Carpet Ready would get her picture taken. Unplaced in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) two months later, she exited the race needing a minor surgery and was subsequently sidelined for the next eight months.
The ride could continue for Lewis when Red Carpet Ready returns to action in the March 9 $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Owned in partnership with Bo Bromagen of Ashbrook Farm, the dark bay/brown filly, now a 4-year-old, will attempt to earn her way back to the Churchill Downs winner’s circle with the May 4 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) as an early spring target.
“It’s rejuvenating (to have her back),” Lewis said. “She was just such a joy—that whole ride last year. Beginning with the Fern Creek in November 2022.”
The daughter of Oscar Performance sailed through her first three starts, capturing the Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old followed by a decisive triumph in Gulfstream’s Forward Gal Stakes (G3) before failing to stay the mile distance when third in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2). Pushing aside dreams of Kentucky Oaks (G1) glory, Red Carpet Ready was rerouted to the seven-furlong Eight Belles and cemented her place among the country’s top one-turn fillies.
Following her layover at Wimbledon Farm in Lexington, Red Carpet Ready was reunited with trainer Rusty Arnold in December at Palms Meadows Training Center. Keeping a steady work pattern ahead of her return, she breezed a bullet five furlongs in a snappy 1:00 two works back.
“She came back from the farm looking incredible,” Lewis said. “She came back bigger and stronger. She was already so mature and so classy as a 3-year-old and the fact that we might have something better is the dream. She looks the part that’s for sure.”
Lewis pointed out that the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie would be “no walkover” for Red Carpet Ready in her comeback. Listed as the third choice at 9-2 in a field of eight older fillies and mares, she’ll need to defeat two impressive last-out graded stakes winners in Olivia Darling and Spirit Wind .
“Olivia Darling just ran a 99 (Beyer Speed Figure) winning over that surface on Pegasus day. And the favorite Spirit Wind had a freaky win last time—she looks awesome. If (Red Carpet Ready) shows she can be competitive with these super-fast fillies that’ll be a great outcome.
“This distance feels right. And obviously, the next step after this would be to go after what she hasn’t done. Which is to win a grade 1. We’ll go to one or both—Madison (Stakes, April 6 at Keeneland) or the (Derby City) Distaff on Derby Day. If she can win a grade 1 that would just be a storybook ending to everything that’s she’s done.”
Poolside With Slim breaks her maiden at Gulfstream Park
What’s more is Lewis could have two black-type winners on Saturday, as his Poolside With Slim , who he also owns in partnership with Bromagen and is trained by Arnold, is entered in the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs. The European acquisition dazzled at second asking over the Gulfstream Tapeta, romping by 5 1/4 lengths in a gate-to-wire performance Feb. 3.
“(Poolside With Slim) ran so well on the Tapeta here that we also nominated her to the Bourbonette (Oaks) in two weeks at Turfway,” Lewis said. “We’re waiting to make that decision to run down here or run up there. She just exudes class. I think she can be a really special distance turf horse. The dream would be to take her to the Appalachian (Stakes) at Keeneland. It’s a salty field in the (Florida Oaks). We’ll find out if she belongs pretty quickly.”
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