Highland Reel dominant in Secretariat victory

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Secretariat Stakes was over about five strides into the race – over for the favored Force the Pass, who lunged into the air as the starting gate sprang, and over for every other member of the field not named Highland Reel.

The Irish horse broke like an American sprinter, darting straight to the lead, slowing down the pace, and easily winning the Grade 1, $450,000 Secretariat on Saturday at Arlington.

No surprise – Aidan O’Brien trains Highland Reel. O’Brien has won the Secretariat a record four times, and the win Saturday gave him two straight in the race after Adelaide triumphed last year. But for jockey Seamie Heffernan, this was a first – his first win in the U.S. in his first ride here.

Heffernan, who’d ridden Highland Reel eight races ago in his career debut, said his plan was to break and see what happened, not necessarily to go to the lead.

“I was hoping to jump and have someone lead me, but when no one went, and he was doing it easily, that was fine,” Heffernan said.

With fat, heavy raindrops beginning to fall from a dark sky, Highland Reel doled out splits of 24.53 seconds, 50.09 with a backstretch tailwind, and 1:14.72 for six furlongs. He was doing it easily, taking no pressure while well in hand.

“I was very confident,” Heffernan said.

Crittenden loomed up within a length or so of the leader before the three-furlong pole, but Highland Reel shrugged him off, opened a big lead straightening for home, and went to the wire unchallenged, getting a mile in 1:39.01 and the final 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.26. Highland Reel was home by 5 1/4 lengths and paid $6.80 to win as the second choice, with the late-rallying Closing Bell, ridden by Jose Lezcano for Bill Mott, up at the wire to nab second over Force the Pass.

After a dream trip winning the Belmont Derby last out, this was a nightmare journey for Force the Pass. Anxious in the post parade, he reared halfway up once in the gate, then was on his hind legs again when the latch sprang, spotting the entire field several lengths and the winner an insurmountable margin.

“It cost me everything,” said Joel Rosario, who tried to edge Force the Pass back into the race without asking for too much, too soon. “He made a big run, but starting like that, what can you do?”

Force the Pass was followed home by Goldstream, Crittenden, War Dispatch, and Granny’s Kitten.

Highland Reel was bred in Ireland by the Hveger Syndicate and is owned by the Coolmore operation. He’s by the Coolmore stallion Galileo and out of the Danehill mare Hveger. Racing on Lasix for the first time, he won his first Grade 1 race while running his career mark to 4-2-0 from eight starts.