Roy H punched his ticket to the 2017 Breeders’ Cup championships with a decisive victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship-Gr.1 on Saturday.

The Kentucky-bred speed-machine is the 20th Group 1 winner by More Than Ready (USA) and earned an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint-Gr.1 at Del Mar on November 4.

The Vinery champion has already sired Breeders’ Cup winners Regally Ready (BC Turf Sprint), Pluck (BC Juvenile Turf) & More Than Real (BC Juvenile Fillies Turf).

“I had him in absolute reserve all the way,” winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said after a one-length victory in 1.08.68s for 1200m.  “He had been touting himself in the mornings so I couldn’t wait to ride him.

“He’s fast and was full of run.  We camped three wide and I just waited to turn him loose.”

Roy H had won the True North Stakes-G2 on a trip to New York in June prompting trainer Peter Miller to make a prediction that’s playing out back home in Los Angeles.  “I believed he was a stakes horse from Day 1.  Unfortunately, a lot of little things prevented him from winning one until now.

“We will take him back to California and I think you’re going to hear a lot more from Roy H.”

Bred by Ramona Bass, he changed hands for $310,000 at the Keeneland 2YO Sale in April 2015.  His dam Elusive Diva (Elusive Quality) won the Railbird Stakes-Gr.3 at Hollywood Park.

More Than Ready’s 20 Group 1 winners top his roll-call of 176 stakes winners which makes him one of the most successful stallions in living history.  He stands for a $66,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery.