Secretariat Stakes – Grade II

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

1st      Eyes Forward               Royalty Stables                     7-2 (HRP) 5-1 (SRF)

In my preview, I said Eyes Forward could easily be the winner here, and that’s exactly what happened. Too bad I couldn’t place him where I said he could be. I also mentioned there was no telling how good he might be. Well, he certainly is giving us a peak into his potential with only four races: he has won two of his four starts, including a Grade II stakes race and he’s been third in a pricey stakes race, he has already amassed $360.80. He has shown a love for turf and he’s speedy and tough. In this race he was challenged right from the start by Hide In Plain Sight all the way into the stretch. He finally pulled away from that one when he had to hold off the late close of Bold Intruder and did so with courage.

2nd      Bold Intruder              The Sidley Stud                    *even (HRP) *7-5 (SRF) 

Tired of being cast in the roll of bridesmaid, Bold Intruder changed his tactics back to closer from that of speed stalker that he employed in the BEL Derby where he ran second last out. Running from the more familiar position of trail, he waited until the stretch to make his move, but he was denied by the strong finish of Eyes Forward and had to settle for his fourth straight big-money second-place finish in a row.

3rd       Hide In Plain Sight              Mb Stables               12-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Hide In Plain Sight appears to have been Mb Stables’ rabbit in this race to get a fight going for the lead so that Stormy Knight could storm in and capture the entire thing. However, it also appears that no one told Hide In Plain Sight that plan because he just kept on to the wire missing second by a nose and the win by less than a length. But consider this horse, he’s only missed the board once in the eleven starts since he broke his maiden. If you’re going to have a rabbit, it might as be one which is capable of winning the race.

 4th      Stormy Knight                 Mb Stables                   8-5 (HRP) 3-1 (SRF)

Stormy Knight stalked the pace from start to finish. From the chart, it doesn’t look like it, but he did fire coming home, but there were so many high-class athletes charging at the wire, not only could he not improve his position, but he actually got passed.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES