Eternal Secrecy, 10, still going strong

CALGARY, Alberta - The 10-year-old Eternal Secrecy, a stakes winner in his youth and winner of 16 races lifetime, heads a field of seven older horses going a mile in a $30,000 claimer that highlights a strong card here Saturday.

Six of the nine races drew full 10-horse fields, assuring plenty of betting opportunities on the 29th day of this 50-day meeting.

Eternal Secrecy will likely be favored despite being off for just over a month following a third-place finish to Churchbridge in a six-furlong allowance. The drop in class, the fact that Churchbridge missed by a nose in the Stampede Park Sprint Championship, and the stretch out to a mile point to Eternal Secrecy in this spot.

Eternal Secrecy runs well fresh and gets along well with Leanne Painter, who retains the call. The gelding breaks from post 3 in a field lacking much early foot and is in line for a pressing trip.

Out Cattin', from post 2 with Jake Barton up, and Delta Monarch, from post 4 under Perry Winters, are the only other horses here to have displayed any speed going a mile.

Catalone and Notreehugger are unproven at this distance and have run their best races from midpack, while Sacred Winds and Ozzie's J J are deep closers who may be compromised by moderate fractions.

o The May 19 Teeworth Plate has drawn 14 nominees, including Sprint Championship winner Plagiarist. The Ken Pearson Memorial, slated for the May 21 Victoria Day card, closed with 15 nominees including M.R. Jenkins Memorial winner She's Italian. Both the Teeworth Plate and the Jenkins Memorial will be run at one mile.