Tom's Ready, a 10-year-old multiple graded-stakes winner and millionaire, was euthanized Oct. 30 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington due to complications following colic surgery, according to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm where the stallion had lived since 2020.
The dark bay son of More Than Ready was donated to Old Friends courtesy of Gayle Benson of GMB Racing after being pensioned from stud duty. He arrived at the Georgetown, Ky., farm Nov. 23, 2020, and enjoyed three years of retirement.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Blackstone Farm, Tom's Ready was out of the Broad Brush daughter Goodbye Stranger, making him a full brother to group 2 winner Jean Gros. He was purchased by GMB Racing for $145,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, the boutique yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Tom's Ready began at 2 in 2015 with trainer Dallas Stewart. He became a winner in his third career start and immediately followed with a runner-up finish in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. He would continue to improve at 3, starting his sophomore year with a second in the Lecomte Stakes (G2) and later finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). A graded stakes win was not far off. Cutting back to seven furlongs, Tom's Ready captured the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park and followed two races later with a win in the one-mile Ack Ack Stakes (G3) back at Churchill.
At 4, Tom's Ready added another graded stakes win in the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) to his résumé along with placed finishes in the Forego Stakes (G1), Kelso Handicap (G2), and Churchill Downs Stakes (G2).
Tom Ready was retired with a 5-4-3 record from 21 starts and earnings of $1,036,266.
Tom's Ready began his stud career in 2018 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky and then was moved to Red River Farms in Louisiana, where he stood for 2019-20. From two crops, Tom's Ready sired 15 foals that included nine winners. His most successful performers include Quite Ready, who won or placed in 10 of 20 starts and earned $128,766; and other multiple winners Ready to March, Muchmorethanready, Itsonlymoneyhoney, and Suzy Doll's Ready.
"Tom's Ready helped Old Friends a lot," said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. "He was donated by Gayle Benson of GMB Racing, sending a message that a first-rate breeding and racing operation trusted us to provide superior retirement and health care for their horse."
