Tape to Tape Faces Ready Again Minnesota in Grand Prairie Turf Sprint

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Minnesota Ready and Tape to Tape, who finished first and second-to-last, respectively, in the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint at Lone Star Park, will meet again Saturday in the $125,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint. The two geldings will join nine other 3-year-olds and older who will cover five furlongs on the turf at Lone Star Park.

Tape to Tape won an early speed duel in the May 27 Speightstown Sprint, then took a one-length advantage throughout the six-furlong contest. However, Minnesota Ready made a late run from fifth to catch Tape to Tape just before the wire and win by half a length.

For Tape to Tape, it was the second start from the stable of trainer Karl Broberg and owner End Zone Athletics Inc. He was claimed by his new connections for $50,000 after a second place in a claiming race optional at Fair Grounds on February 24. In his first outing for Broberg on April 21, Tape to Tape won a $40,000 optional claiming race in superior condition by five and a half lengths over five and a half furlongs at Lone Star.

Winner of the $50,000 Ed Skinner at Prairie Meadows in June of last year, Tape to Tape has 10 wins in 33 career starts with nine seconds and four thirds. He was an $85,000 purchase by Michael Ley from the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2020 Ocala Breeders March Sale and has since earned $414,104.

Tape to Tape is 4-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez from the sixth post.

Owner Richard C. Colton purchased Minnesota Ready for $380,000 to win the Fasig-Tipton Digital Lothenbach Dispersal in February and saw him quickly win the $98,000 Colonel Power over five and a half furlongs at Fair Grounds on February 17. He then finished second to Bo Cruz in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland on April 6 before finishing on the board in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs won by Gun Pilot on May 4.

Minnesota Ready is trained by Tom Amoss and has a career record of five wins, three seconds and five thirds in 25 starts with earnings of $484,112.

He is the 5-2 morning line favorite and Martin Pedroza Jr. will start in seventh place.

Florida-bred Toddchero comes to Lone Star Park from Evangeline Downs with trainer Jayde Gelner.

Toddchero will transition to sprinting after covering a mile on the Evangeline Downs turf in his last three races. He finished third in a higher tier, a $30,000 optional claim won by the Duke of Carthania on 14 June and won a three non-winner’s allowance on 10 May. He finished second to Easter Snap in a second tier, an allocation on 12 April.

Toddchero is owned by Norman Stables, who purchased him for $77,000 at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale where he was featured by Fast Horses. Since then, he has won three of 19 career starts with four seconds and five thirds while earning $170,842.

Freddy Manrrique will ride Toddchero from post 11 and they are 12-1 on the morning line.

Empire of Gold and jockey Floyd Wethey Jr. complete the field, Artemus Citylimits will be ridden by David Cabrera, agent Peter Graves with rider CJ McMahon, Richard Erania will be aboard Atras, stayed for the half with Eric Asmussen in saddle, Sign of War will carry Chris Elliot, Prince Lancelot will ask Chris Landeros to take the call and Rodolfo Guerra will ride Let’s Go Mark.

Return to the June 26 issue of Wire to wire