Raymundos Secret eyes Goldikova and Matriarch stakes
DEL MAR, Calif. - Raymundos Secret won the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Saturday by a rapidly diminishing neck, holding off a furious rally from Lady Prancealot.
The outcome has dictated how the 4-year-old Raymundos Secret will be campaigned this fall. On Sunday, trainer Phil D’Amato said one-mile turf races for fillies and mares such as the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 and the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 29 are goals.
“That would be the most logical,” D’Amato said of the Goldikova. “It gives her nice spacing between this race and the next. If she showed continued improvement, the Matriarch is a race that we can jump into.
“I think her confidence level is headed in the right direction.”
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The Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 has an enticing purse of $300,000, but may not suit Raymundos Secret.
“I don’t know if I want to go that far with her,” D’Amato said.
Owned by the partnership of Sterling Racing and Sierra Racing, Raymundos Secret has won 5 of 7 starts and has earned $188,971. The $151,500 John Mabee Stakes was her first stakes win and the longest win of her brief career. She joined D’Amato’s stable earlier this year, having previously been trained by Richard Baltas. Raymundos Secret won her debut for D’Amato in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 14.
Raymundos Secret was ridden by Flavien Prat, who won his 13th stakes of the summer meeting, tying Rafael Bejarano’s record set in 2012.
Raymundos Secret led throughout the Mabee, holding a two-length advantage with a furlong remaining.
Lady Prancealot is likely to start in the Rodeo Drive, trainer Richard Baltas said Sunday. The winner of the Rodeo Drive receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 7.