Secretariat Stakes – Grade II

1 1/16 Mile Turf Graded Stake Purse $500.00 Three-Year-Olds. At CNL

Secretariat Stakes was a stakes race back in the wild west years of HRP where the groundbreaking trainers roamed the grounds and legendary houses were entertaining the morning railbirds. I went on endlessly the other day about these characters. I just wanted to mention a few here that show up in this race’s history. The first winner of this race was Moon Fever trained by future HOF Trainer Cajun Stable who was here in 2003 and is still here today. Cajun was everywhere back in the day, even was one of the first writers for SRF. He bred and raced future HOF Base Stallion Black Moon which is the sire of Moon Fever. And just to mention a few more: Breiterate won the 2013 edition for Future HOF Trainer Will of Sanny Village. Will was a great trainer but even better human who shared his knowledge and time generously until he passed. We will always miss him. Finally, one more deep history person I’d like to mention is Neddynewnops, owner of 2006 winner, Power Wonder. Neddy is an example of the wonderful cross section of characters we get at this crazy place. He was a delightful person to chat with, funny and sharp witted He was a successful British actor who eventually had to quit because of some big part he got. And finally, one modern day hero: future HOF Trainer Mb Stables who has won this race three times and returns with two entries looking for win number four.

Here’s the field:                                                                                                    

Horse                                  Owner                               Odds  SRF

Bold Intruder                      The Sidley Stud                  *7-5        96

Stormy Knight                    Mb Stables                           3-1        95

Hide In Plain Sight             Mb Stables                           4-1        97

Eyes Forward                     Royalty Stables                    5-1        94

Ginger Beer                        La Canada Racehorses       8-1        85

Meta                                   D J C Racing Stables         10-1    91                             

1  Eyes Forward                       Royalty Stables                     96

Unraced as a two-year-old, Eyes Forward is developing rapidly and could be any sort. Claimed from Mb Stables for $30.00 in a winning effort, he was immediately entered in the $275.00 American Derby at CD where he placed third beaten only a neck. Young and lightly raced, he could easily be the winner here.

2  Meta                      D J C Racing Stables                           91

Lightly raced Meta took four races to break his maiden but kept running in the money after graduating. This will be his first stakes race, so he’s jumping into the deep end at Grade II. He comes from a sharp trainer who will have him at his best.

3   Stormy Knight                       Mb Stables                      95

Stormy Knight has been facing tough competition and has been holding his own fairly well. His second in the Grade III PEN Mile earned him a SRF 100 in loss and he was fourth in the Grade I American Turf at CD. Prior to that, he won the $150.00 Cutler Bay at GP to start his stakes career. Stepping down from Grade I competition to this Grade II race should sooth things out for him.

4   Bold Intruder                       The Sidley Stud                           98 

Bold Intruder has been bridesmaid to the very best in the world in his TC attempt. In qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, he won both the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at FG and the Grade II Mike LaRosa LA Derby at FG, then he disappointed in the Derby. After that came the remarkable string of runners up in Grade I races starting with The Preakness, second a head, then The Belmont, second a nose and most recently The Grade I BEL Derby Invitational, second a length. With this kind of form against this caliber of competition, he should be a strong favourite against this field.

5   Hide In Plain Sight                      Mb Stables                       97

Winner of the $275.00 American Derby, Hide In Plain Sight ran second in The $100.00 Murphy Stakes at LRL the race before, and really has had a remarkably consistent career with The Jerome being the only misstep. There is no reason not to expect another in the money showing from him today.

6   Ginger Beer                  La Canada Racehorses             96

Ginger Beer is just getting started in the stakes game and is 50% in the money after four tries. He ran third in the $100.00 Texas Glitter in his first stakes attempt and won the $150.00 NY Stallion Stakes – Bid race before last but ran out most recently. The biggest concern I see is the fact he has never raced beyond six furlongs. However, the 1:34 3/5 work on 21 July begs to differ.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES