Expectations high for Secret Spice

ARCADIA, Calif. – At 2, Secret Spice was third behind the multiple stakes winners Dream Tree and Midnight Bisou in a stakes sprint at Del Mar. Last October at 3, Secret Spice won an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at a mile by an eye-catching 11 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita. She has not raced since.

Secret Spice resumed full training earlier this year, and her owner and trainer have high expectations for her when she starts in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at a mile in Thursday’s sixth race.

“We have great confidence in her,” said Billy Koch, the managing partner of Little Red Feather, which owns Secret Spice. She is trained by Richard Baltas.

“I think she’s always wanted to go long. I give Richie Baltas and his team all the kudos. They were patient. Sometimes, horses develop slower than others.”

Secret Spice, who will be ridden by leading jockey Flavien Part, is in a field of seven that includes Bashful, unbeaten in two starts; Just a Smidge, who was stakes-placed in 2017; and Mo See Cal, who has displayed the best form of her career in the last six months.

KEY CONTENDERS

Secret Spice, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 106-78-64

◗ Secret Spice has won 2 of 8 starts. She won a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs in October 2017 and was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Dream Tree in the Dezi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar a month later. Dream Tree has since won three graded stakes. Runner-up Midnight Bisou, who finished a nose behind Dream Tree, has since won six stakes and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs last November.

◗ Secret Spice stalked the pace in her last race before taking command on the far turn. Koch thinks that win showed Secret Spice’s potential at two turns.

“She has a high cruising speed,” Koch said. “She can use her natural ability and she can be a better horse.”

◗ Secret Spice was intended to run in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, but had a training setback last November.

“She never left the track,” Koch said. “She had a little hiccup in her training and we had to take our time.”

Bashful, by Orb
Beyers: 79-82

◗ Thursday’s race will be a distance test for Bashful, who won a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 22 and an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs here on Jan. 6. In both races, jockey Mike Smith had Bashful in last early and they took command in the final furlong.

◗ Richard Mandella trains Bashful, who will be ridden again by Smith.

Mo See Cal, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-94

◗ Trained by Peter Miller, Mo See Cal has won three of her last four starts. She was second in an optional claimer at a mile on Jan. 11. From August to December, Mo See Cal won a starter allowance and two optional claimers.

◗ She has displayed the ability to race on or near the lead.