Oaklawn Park: Cyber Secret earns shot at Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cyber Secret, who has taken his game to a new level over the past several months, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Lynn Whiting said Friday. Cyber Secret is unbeaten at he current meet, picking off his third win of the season in last weekend’s Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap.

“He’s pumped up,” Whiting said.

Cyber Secret began his Oaklawn streak Jan. 21, when he rolled to a 4 1/4-length win in a second-level optional $32,000 claimer at a mile. He then took an optional $75,000 claimer Feb. 15, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101 for his effort in the 1 1/16-mile race. Cyber Secret returned in the Razorback on March 9, and after stalking the pace in fourth proved best in a three-horse photo. For his score in the 1 1/16-mile stakes, he earned a Beyer of 100.

“I thought it was his race to win leaving the half-mile pole, and he was able to get the job done,” Whiting said of the Razorback.

“He’s more professional. Last year, he was chasing early and that really didn’t bode well for him.”

The Oaklawn Handicap, which will be run over 1 1/8 miles, is April 13.

Cyber Secret, a 4-year-old by Broken Vow, has won 5 of 13 starts and $252,564. He races for Oaklawn president Charles Cella.

Alternation eyes Oaklawn Cap

Alternation, a millionaire who finished fifth in the Razorback in his first start since October, also is a candidate for the Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said. The horse won the race last year.

In the Razorback, Alternation was hung well wide on both turns after breaking from post 10.

“From the outside post to his first race back and the fact that we never did really save any ground, never got to the better part of the racetrack, just all those things together, we ended up fifth,” Von Hemel said.

Von Hemel said the horse emerged from the race in good order and will train toward the Oaklawn Handicap.

Alternation races for his breeder, Pin Oak Stable.

Two long-time owners dead

Bill Peters and Wayne Stockseth, two prominent owners who long raced at Oaklawn, have died in the last month. Peters, 86, owned Mariah’s Storm, a multiple graded stakes winner who was the inspiration for the movie “Dreamer.” Stockseth, 82, raced popular Grade 3 winner Now I Know. Both horses were trained by Don Von Hemel.

Peters died Feb. 17 after a short illness, according to an obituary provided by Caruth-Hale Funeral Home in Hot Springs, Ark. He was a native of Des Moines, Iowa. Peters, who was in land development and constructed highways, raced as Thunderhead Farms. Other top horses for Peters included the multiple stakes winner Sand Ridge.

Stockseth died Monday after a long illness, according to an obituary from Seaside Funeral Home in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was a native of Oak Park, Ill., and held a degree in economics from Sacramento State University. He also served in the U.S. Navy. Stockseth was an entrepreneur, with one of his first stakes winners being Picture Point in the early 1980s.

◗ Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has moved first post to 5:15 p.m. Central beginning Wednesday. The meet closes next Saturday.