Leader of the Band edges Beth's Secret in Lady's Secret Stakes
Leader of the Band, returning to the site of her biggest win, nipped 7-5 favorite Beth’s Dream by a head and won the $100,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes on Saturday at sloppy Monmouth Park.
Beth’s Secret, shipping from Florida for trainer Victor Barboza Jr., raced in a $16,000 maiden claimer in December when returning from a 14-month layoff. She won that day and scored two more blowout victories in one-turn Gulfstream Park races, but while Beth’s Dream was ready for her stakes and two-turn debut, she was not quite ready for Leader of the Band.
Sitting just behind pacesetting Wholebodemeister through moderate splits of 23.62 seconds and 48.36, Beth’s Dream put away Wholebodemeister midway around the far turn and braced for a challenge from Leader of the Band. Shipping from Parx Racing for trainer John Servis, Leader of the Band won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last summer, a career peak, and Servis had her ready to improve Saturday after the 4-year-old filly had finished a well-beaten fourth May 8 at Monmouth in the Serena’s Song.
Stalking the pace under Isaac Castillo, Leader of the Band was forced into an early three-wide move around the turn when Join the Dots, running even wider, made a run at the half-mile pole. Beth’s Dream took the turn better and cornered for home still leading, but Leader of the Band engaged her at the furlong grounds and got onto even terms at the sixteenth pole. Beth’s Page, under Paco Lopez, fought back gamely, but Leader of the Band was going just slightly better and scored a narrow victory. Off a six-furlong split of 1:13.13, the winner, who paid $10, clocked 1:45.87 for 1 1/16 miles over the sloppy going. Boston Post Road finished third.
Servis trains Pennsylvania-bred Leader of the Band for her breeder, SMD Limited. The filly is by Banbox out of Catsuit, by Sir Cat.