Classy Reserve drops and looks to bounce back

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Off a rare subpar showing, the classy Secret Reserve gets some class relief in Sunday’s featured ninth race at Woodbine, a 6 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

A multiple restricted stakes winner two years ago at 3, Secret Reserve notched his first graded stakes last August in the Grade 3 Bold Venture. Returning from a winter layoff in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint at Sunday’s level on April 29, he pressed a slow pace before fading to third behind gate-to-wire winner Rockcrest.

Secret Reserve met Rockcrest again most recently in the six-furlong Pink Lloyd Stakes for Ontario-sired stock. Rockcrest led all the way again, while Secret Reserve languished in 10th after a wide trip.

Trainer Mike Mattine said Secret Reserve wasn’t at his best in the June 4 Pink Lloyd and predicted a better outcome Sunday.

“He kept switching his leads, but it looks like we fixed the problem,” Mattine said. “He should run better. He’s coming into this race better than the last one.”

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Secret Reserve totes 121 pounds, including apprentice Sofia Vives, who rode the son of Giant Gizmo in his penultimate race. Woodbine’s leading bug rider is 3 for 9 at the meet for Mattine.

“I’m not going to let him carry 126 pounds – it’s too much weight,” Mattine said. “We’ve had some luck with her.”

Trainer Mark Casse entered the turf specialists First Empire and Coinage in the eight-horse race. Going back five years, Casse scored at a 20 percent clip going turf to synthetic, with a return on investment of $1.92 for each $2 bet.

First Empire should shake loose on an uncontested lead under Patrick Husbands. The 4-year-old took the Soaring Free Stakes at 2 before ending up fourth in the Grade 1 Summer.

First Empire has been lightly raced over the past two years and was victorious in his lone Tapeta start, a seven-furlong allowance last fall. He has been idle since coming up empty in a key allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream in March.

Coinage is winless in nine starts since taking the Palm Beach Stakes in March 2022 at Gulfstream. He wasn’t an impact player in his last four outings at three different tracks, including a fourth-place finish in a Tapeta route at Gulfstream. Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride the son of Tapit.

Souper Watson won two in a row at a notch lower during the spring under leading rider Kazushi Kimura, who retains the mount for trainer Marty Drexler.

Last American Exit closed for third in the slow-paced Pink Lloyd. He competes with the $80,000 tag, with Jose Campos aboard for trainer Harold Ladouceur.

Completing the ninth-race lineup are Told It All, Silent Runner, and Mason’s Gamble.

The appealing 10-race card has a post time of 1:10 p.m.

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