August 17, 2016

While more fancied three-year-olds took their shot at another Grade I event at AP on Saturday, the best of the turf took to the Grade I Secretariat Stakes and little separated the top three at the wire with Aggravation just getting the better of his rivals as the favourite. Regally bred from the powerful stallion Commanding, he has really come into his own since moving to the grass and now owns four wins in five starts on the surface, with more than $530.000 in career earnings and now, three straight triple-digit speed ratings including the huge 102-mark earned this time around.

Gallivant (4.25) was the quickest sophomore from the gate in the Secretariat with Yummy Opus (9.40) also breaking sharply from the outside and as the field moved in front of the stands for the first time, the outside runner was able to rocket to command with a two-length lead. Pinstripes Proud (7.65) held well inside with Yankee Baseball (8.20) three-wide but Gallivant and Spazz (91.65) both moved forward to contend for the lead through four-furlongs in 47.48. The field really bunched up down the backstretch with Yummy Opus still a neck in front but Gallivant really moved forward passing six-furlongs in 1:10.95 while leaving the three-path open for Aggravation (*2.15), who broke evenly but was methodical in his momentum into the far turn. As the lead changed hands, it was only a matter of time before the favourite took control and with two-furlongs to run, the top choices were really in control with I Have Arrived (3.90) aptly arriving on the scene to make it a trio. One-mile in 1:34.40 meant that few would be closing from the backfield and with a furlong to run, Gallivant was still trying to hold the lead but in the end, could not as Aggravation showed all of his class to score by a neck, with I Have Arrived falling just short in third after a powerful late run. Pinstripes Proud hugged the rail in fourth while Yankee Baseball wound up a wide fifth with Pervoked (13.40) and Black Mach One (13.00) as non-factors, Yummy Opus fading badly and Spazz running his longshot odds in last.

Aggravation had already beaten older runners in the Grade II Wise Dan at CD so the Grade I Secretariat against his own age was well within his grasp, yet it took a new stakes record time to upend a pair of well-meant rivals in securing his first top-class win. He should have enough points to qualify for the Grade I BC Turf later in the year but might have to take on older runners in a race like the Northern Dancer BC to make sure he can get into the field, with the idea of beating older rivals again as a big momentum builder.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their three-year-old colt Aggravation, a sharp winner of the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at AP!

Prediction            Aggravation / I Have Arrived / Gallivant

Winner                  Aggravation

                                Three-year-old bay colt

                                 Commanding-Pumpkin Spice Latte (Chai Latte)

Owner                    Mb Stables

Time                        47.48, 1:10.95, 1:34.40, 1:58.29 (NSR)

Overall

Aggravation           *2.15 broke evenly, between rivals, up in time

Gallivant                 4.25 pressed pace, clear into lane, missed

I Have Arrived       3.90 closed well, just missed second

Pinstripes Proud   7.65 rail run throughout

Yankee Baseball    8.20 wide run into stretch

Pervoked                  13.40 even effort

Black Mach One    13.00 no threat

Yummy Opus           9.40 broke sharp, faded badly

Spazz                         91.65 weakened in final half

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES