Our Secret Agent makes Hendrie first stakes triumph
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Our Secret Agent finally notched her first stakes triumph on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Hendrie, with Kazushi Kimura riding for leading trainer Mark Casse.
Toffen led the way in the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint while Our Secret Agent took up the chase in second, ahead of a wide Amalfi Coast, the 9-5 second choice.
Our Secret Agent hit the front early in the stretch and then drew away to score by 3 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:15.68.
Amalfi Coast secured second by a head over 16-1 shot La Libertee. Betwixting and Toffen completed the order of finish.
Our Secret Agent and Amalfi Coast are both entered in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
It was the 100th win of the year and 99th victory at the Woodbine meet for leading rider Kimura.
“It was an easy win, a good race,” Kimura said. ““This is the second time (I rode her). I broke the maiden. She’s such a sweet filly. I (wanted) to sit second, and that was pretty comfortable for her. She exploded.”
Our Secret Agent ($4.50) earned $90,000 of the $156,000 purse for owner Gary Barber. The daughter of Secret Circle had placed in six consecutive stakes without winning one prior to a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Canadian on the grass here Sept. 18.