Ready Russell has had an impressive start to his racing career.
“He has so much talent, it’s pathetic,” said Russell Swartz, who is just shy of 2,000 career driving wins and assists his wife, Deborah, in the training of Ready Russell. “He’s happy all the time and loves his job.”
Outside of a rough showing in the Ohio State Fair Stakes, he’s done nothing but win, scoring five victories in six seasonal starts. With a victory in each of the first four legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes on his resume, the Ready For Moni-Fortheloveoflindy gelding has proven to be a top contender among the state's freshman colt trotters.
“Everything has just kind of fallen into place,” said Swartz. “He’s been an incredible horse for us. He acts older than what he is — he’s really level-headed and doesn’t let too many things excite him.”
Looking to complete a perfect run through the five legs of the OHSS, Ready Russell heads to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Monday, Sept. 1 to race in one of two $65,000 USD divisions of the fifth leg for freshman colt trotters as part of a 16-race card starting at 5:45 p.m. He recorded a lifetime-best 1:54.3 in his fourth-leg victory at Scioto on Aug. 23, giving him strong positive momentum going into Monday’s race. Swartz said the gelding trained well on Thursday and seemed really happy on Friday.
“He has his head out of the front of the stall and is looking out the door. His ears are up and his eyes are bright,” he said. “I feel good about Monday.”
Ready Russell opened his run through the OHSS with a win in the first leg at Scioto in 1:55. He won in 1:56.4 and 1:56.2 in the second and third legs, respectively, both of which were held at MGM Northfield Park. Dan Noble has been in the sulky for all four OHSS victories thus far and has been picked to drive again in the fifth leg. Swartz appreciates how Noble teaches colts how to race and those lessons have paid off thus far with Ready Russell.
“Danny can make a horse go, but he has kind of a quiet hand to him and I’ve always liked that,” said Swartz. “All summer, I’ve tried to keep the throttle out of his hand a little bit so we would have something left at the end and that has worked to this point.”
Based on Noble’s feedback, Ready Russell has been a pleasure to drive.
“Danny says he can’t believe how professional he is,” said Swartz. “You don’t have to chase him with the whip. All you have to do is talk to him and he’ll respond to your voice.”
Off the track, the winning formula also includes owners Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and David Fought.
“I can’t say enough good things about the owners — they are some of the best owners I’ve ever been around,” said Swartz.
Ready Russell has already amassed nearly $150,000 in earnings and continues to grow his fan base with each successive victory.
“Last week after he won, when we were walking him by people, they were looking at him like ‘Wow!’ and giving us thumbs up and hugs and smiles,” said Swartz. “It just makes you feel good. It makes you feel like what you’re doing is worth doing.”
Ready Russell is the even-money morning line favourite in the first division of Monday’s OHSS and will be competing against the likes of Ur Ride Is Here (Brady Brown) and Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith), each of whom has one OHSS win this season. Ur Ride Is Here posted a victory in the first leg in 1:59, while Bitcoin King came out on top in the third leg in 1:58.2. Bitcoin King has hit the board in all four legs thus far, finishing second in the fourth leg and third in the first and second legs. The Chris Beaver-trained Bitcoin King is the 3-1 second choice, while Steve Schoeffel trainee Ur Ride Is Here opened with 12-1 odds.
Ready Russell will leave from post seven in Monday’s eight-horse field. While that may be less than ideal, he won from posts six and seven in the prior two OHSS legs held at Scioto. Swartz likes his chances of coming out on top but knows youth can lead to some unpredictable outcomes.
“He’s an incredible colt — I can’t say enough good things about him. But at the same time, everybody has to remember that he’s just a two-year-old and two-year-olds make mistakes,” he said. “Maybe no one needs to know that more than me because I’ve come to expect the best out of him.”
Those expectations are borne out of the success Ready Russell has achieved as a consistent winner, earning high praise from Swartz in what is still the early stages of his racing career.
“It would mean the absolute world to my wife and me to win the fifth leg. We have 20-some horses and we work really hard at it, and it’s just nice to have one that pays off,” said Swartz. “But even if he didn’t do another thing, I would still say he’s the best trotting colt I’ve ever trained in my life, by far. I’ve had some nice horses, but this one is incredible.”
(Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)