Oaklawn: Big Beyer propels Cyber Secret to Southwest
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cyber Secret is headed to the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park following a powerful first-level allowance win at the track last Saturday. He was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96, one of the top numbers given to a 3-year-old so far in 2012.
“That was a big race from him,” said Lynn Whiting, who trains Cyber Secret.
On Tuesday it was announced that Cyber Secret was inadvertently left off the original Triple Crown nominations and now is one the 398 3-year-old eligible for the series.
The Southwest, at one mile on Feb. 20, will be the second graded stakes start for Cyber Secret. He ran seventh in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26, one start after winning a maiden special weight sprint at Belmont Park in his career debut Oct. 20. Cyber Secret got his start for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Chad Brown, but in December was sold privately to Charles Cella, the president of Oaklawn. The horse was then transferred to Whiting.
“I saw the colt at Churchill Downs, when he ran in the Kentucky Jockey Club,” Whiting said. “When he walked into the paddock I thought, ‘This is a good-looking colt.’ I was looking for a horse for Mr. Cella. I thought I’d make an inquiry. We were able to get a price on the horse, and ended up buying him.”
Cyber Secret made his first start for his new connections Jan. 15 at Oaklawn, and after breaking poorly ended up ninth, nine lengths behind winner and fellow Kentucky Jockey Club alum Atigun.
“He got away so bad,” Whiting said. “After that race, we schooled him a couple of times [in the gate]. He came back and acted rather professional this past Saturday. He did everything like he was supposed to.”
Cyber Secret broke sharply and set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile race before separating himself from the field. He won by 5 1/4 lengths, and the Beyer he earned ranked seventh-best among all numbers assigned to 3-year-old colts and geldings through Tuesday. The list is topped by Algorithms, who earned a 105 for his Grade 3 Holy Bull win at Gulfstream. It also includes Apprehender, a debut winner at Oaklawn whose original Beyer of 97 has been upgraded to a 98.
Apprehender is also targeting the Southwest. Other early probables include Secret Circle, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint; Pee H Dee, an Oaklawn allowance winner and half-brother to recent Grade 3 Connally Turf Cup winner Papaw Bodie; and Junebugred, Reckless Jerry, Jake Mo and Optimizer, who all ran in last month’s $100,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.