$250,000 Graduate Trot to Ready For Moni

East Rutherford, N.J. — Ready For Moni rallied in the stretch to win Saturday’s $250,000 Graduate Series harness racing final for 4-year-old trotters in 1:50.3 over a sloppy track at the Meadowlands. Hypnotic AM, the lone mare in the 10-horse field, finished second and It’s Academic was third.

Amigo Volo, starting from post 10, battled with Play Trix On Me and It’s Academic to gain the lead in an opening quarter of :26.4. It’s Academic moved to the front on the backstretch and led to the half in :55.1 before facing first-over pressure from Hypnotic AM on the last turn.

Ready For Moni, who was sixth during the first half of the race, followed Hypnotic AM around the turn and into the stretch before moving to the outside to charge to victory for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Nancy Takter. The margin of victory was 1-1/2 lengths.

“Timmy gave him a great trip,” Takter said. “He found some cover, which (Ready For Moni) hasn’t had the last couple weeks. Hypnotic AM towed him right into the finish and he finished really strong. That’s a great mile on this track. I’m pretty proud of him.

“My colt was really great today. He had the ball in his court and he took advantage of it.”
Ready For Moni has won two of four races this season and 11 of 23 lifetime. The win in the Graduate pushed his career earnings over $1 million.

READY FOR MONI REPLAY

By Ready Cash out of Nothing But Moni, Ready For Moni is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut, John Fielding, Herb Liverman, and Bud Hatfield. The stallion was bred by Moni Maker Stable.

“He’s raced super every start this year,” Takter said. “He’s been closing really well. It’s tough sometimes for 4-year-olds to make the adjustments for their 4-year-old year, especially when they’ve had long 3-year-old seasons. He seems to be handling it pretty well and I look forward to racing him the rest of the year.

“He has the Hambletonian Maturity next weekend, so we’re really looking forward to that. And then he’s in all the big stakes following the Hambletonian Maturity.”

Sent off at odds of 6-1, Ready For Moni paid $15.40 to win.

For full race results, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA