Proforma likely to remain a sprinter, trainer says
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Derby fever? Trainer Mike Stidham has no symptoms whatsoever, even after 2-year-old Proforma scored his second straight eye-catching victory, capturing the $50,000 Sugar Bowl by three lengths Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Proforma ran six furlongs in 1:10.72 on a track not producing fast times while beating favored Running Mate by three lengths. Proforma got an 85 Beyer Speed Figure after his second-start maiden win last out at Churchill had produced an 83.
Proforma is by the versatile sire Munnings and out of a Salt Lake mare, Caseys Irish Pride, who maximized her modest talent in two-turn races. But Proforma so far has not struck Stidham as anything like a candidate for long races early in his 3-year-old season.
“I hope I’m wrong, but the way he’s put together, the way he moves, he seems more like a sprinter,” Stidham said. “I’m not going to sit here and say there’s no way he can get a mile, but he gallops like a one-turn horse, breezes like a one-turn horse, and runs like a one-turn horse.”
Stidham said Proforma would be nominated to the Lecomte Stakes, a one-mile and 70-yard route at Fair Grounds on Jan. 21, but that one-turn stakes at Sam Houston and Gulfstream also would be considered.
Secret Someone retired
Stidham also said that Secret Someone, who was seventh Saturday in the Blushing K.D. on Saturday at Fair Grounds, has been retired to become a broodmare.
Secret Someone won the $100,000 Lady Canterbury and the $348,000 Kentucky Ladies Turf earlier this year, and has a top-end pedigree as a daughter of A.P. Indy and the good mare Private Gift, by Unbridled. Five-year-old Secret Someone is retired with a career record of 21-5-0-2.
◗ Three first-level allowance races, two turf routes, and one dirt sprint highlight Thursday’s nine-race program.
◗ Fair Grounds will be dark Saturday and Sunday, but races return on Monday. The card, already drawn, is a strong one.
◗ Sunday’s card was canceled after one race following heavy rain that reportedly caused a washout near the finish line. Jockeys told track officials the surface wasn’t safe, and Fair Grounds stewards approved the cancellation.
