John Mentz claimed Ready to Runaway for $25,000 out of her fourth career race back on June 22 of 2019, and in his barn the Minnesota-bred mare has gone on to become the leading money-winner in the history of Canterbury Park. 

     Ready to Runaway made her 19th start for Mentz last night and she finished second in the $101,200 Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship, only the second time the 5-year-old daughter of First Dude has raced on the grass. The eight-time stakes-winner earned a check for $18,125, raising her lifetime total to $475,860 on a fabulous record of 12-6-3 in 23 starts. She’s the fifth-leading money-winning runner for First Dude, and should soon become the fifth to surpass the $500,000 mark.

    Roimes Chirino, Ready to Runaway’s regular rider, had her stalking  pace-setter Rush Hour Traffic down the backstretch, but she never really looked as comfortable as she has in all of her dirt tries. She was unable to produce her usual stretch heroics, especially since Rush Hour Traffic wasn’t backing up while posting an excellent 1:41.40 for the 1 1/16 miles, just 1 1/5 seconds off the course record.