Gotham Gala's last race points her out in allowance race

Gotham Gala brings a sizzling-hot company line into the $100,000 Lady’s Secret on Wednesday at Monmouth Park. She enters off a runner-up finish to Valiance, who following their meeting won the Grade 1 Spinster on Sunday at Keeneland.

The horses met in the Eatontown, an off-the-turf race Aug. 29 at Monmouth that Valiance won by a length and a half over Gotham Gala.

The Lady’s Secret on Wednesday is over the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Eatontown. The field of seven fillies and mares includes Royal Flag, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser. Also in the field are stakes winners Another Broad, Nonna Madeline, and Lucky Move.

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Gotham Gala has a number of variables in her favor Wednesday. For one, this is prime time for Gotham Gala.

“She’s kind of a seasonal filly, comes to the good form middle of the summer and the end of the year,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “It seems like she gets her momentum.”

Gotham Gala earned one of her best Beyer Speed Figures in the Eatontown, a 91. She was prominent throughout, and with more natural speed than most of her rivals Wednesday, she could have a tactical advantage in the Lady’s Secret.

“Usually, she’s kind of close to the pace,” Delacour said. “She doesn’t have to make the pace. It depends on how fast they go. She’s got tactical speed.”

Gotham Gala also is proven on the main track at Monmouth. She was 12 3/4-length maiden special weight winner over the local surface in 2018, and last year ran third in a local allowance won by recent Grade 2 Beldame winner Horologist.

“I like the fact that she knows the track very well,” Delacour said. “That’s definitely a plus.”

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Hector Diaz Jr. has the mount on Gotham Gala from post 2. The daughter of Smart Strike races for Mark Grier.

Royal Flag enters off back-to-back Grade 3 placings, finishing third to Horologist in the Molly Pitcher in July at Monmouth and second in the Shuvee behind Letruska on Aug. 30 at Saratoga.

Royal Flag is a Will Farish homebred by Candy Ride. She is a full sister to Eagle, a multiple stakes winner of $754,186. Antonio Gallardo has the mount from post 4 for trainer Chad Brown.