Secretariat Stakes – Grade II
CNL Race #1 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Double Wide Dreaming Mb Stables Pennington F 122 —

A throw in here based on works rather than any racecourse form, he is one of those at this time of year that could make rapid improvement and cause a shock. His turf form isn’t too bad with a good win in a big-ticket WO claimer two back so there is certainly something there, but you have to rely on other forces than that of form for a winning chance. Pennington takes the reins, and we all know how good he can be on the grass and with MB Stables at the helm, well a win doesn’t seem as impossible as it looks on paper.

2 Force Power Threshold Lezcano J 122 —

Talking of impossibilities, here is another that the trainer will be hoping out runs his form so far. Bought from a $7.000 claimer he is certainly better than that, but you have to really stretch the HRP imagination to see him winning. Drawn well, he is likely to go back and come late so will need a fast pace and some racing luck to get involved late.

3 Person Of Interest Mb Stables Centeno D E 122 —

You would think this one represents the more obvious chance out of the stable pair and is drawn perfectly to give the trainer yet another three-year-old winner. Brave in the Jersey Derby he went on the pace that day and clung on gamely. Next out in the Manilla he didn’t last as long on the pace but still managed third with Bronze Crown safely held back in fifth. The form lines aren’t as outstanding as we often see from the stable, but this is a competent three-year-old that has every chance to run well.

4 Bronze Crown TwinTowersRacing Gaffalione T 122 —

Ran well enough in the wet in the Murphy to suggest he may be better with some moisture in the track as his other runs in stakes company haven’t been as good. A decent worker, he hails from a stable that gives their horses every chance at this level and once again he steps into the lion ring here with a fighting chance. Not a top pick on top of the ground but watch him if the rains come.

5 Virtual Handyman Riggins Racing Cabrera D 122 —

The stable is in great form and brings this one here off the back of a very strong 1.34 and 3 work suggesting he has this horse in the groove for this big purse. Bought from Wood Duck Stable after an impressive maiden win on the grass he has then bounced around surfaces a little finishing third in the Cinema Stakes on the turf and third in the MTB Derby on the dirt. This isn’t the strongest field, and his works and form are certainly in the top three here so he must have a good chance of a big win.

6 Mayan Quest Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A 122 —

Showed massive improvement last time to go from a BTP one win allowance to a DMR Stakes win but that is what we are used to seeing at this time of year and the stable will be banking on that improvement curve rising further as they take on this bigger purse. He has certainly taken to grass after 7 runs for 1 win on the dirt he is unbeaten on this surface in his last two and is hunting a hat trick here.

7 Damushi Red Fox Farms Lopez P 122 —

Another one whose chances improve with rain although he has done well enough in the dry to suggest he is in the mix whatever the weather. A strong worker there, has been some nice improvement this year and on his last easy win at PRX he looks ready to take on this grade. Likely to go back from this draw, it will be down to traffic but if he can keep in touch early on, he has a useful turn of foot to call on late.

8 Free Agent Fractious Hernandez R M 122 —

Rounding out the field is probably the best horse on both form and probably works. Handicapped by the wide draw, he is normally a deep closer, but I do wonder whether they will be the best tactics to use in this race where there doesn’t look a lot of early paces. On his second in the PEN Mile, he is the clear choice to win this race against opposition with nowhere near that sort of form and he showed in the Singletary Stakes that he can lay up a bit closer when required, so I just cannot see him beaten today.

SUMMARY

The clear stand out here is Free Agent which looks the obvious winner on all counts. If he does get beat it will be by something that gets a lead into the stretch and any one of the others could click the gaming buttons to try that. It is hard to pick a couple out of the others to fill the minor spots or to make a bold attempt tactically so I will leave it at that with Free Agent my only choice.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES