Raymundos Secret holds on to win John Mabee by a neck
DEL MAR, Calif. - Raymundos Secret led throughout Saturday’s Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares on turf, giving jockey Flavien Prat a record-equaling 13th stakes win of the Del Mar summer meeting.
Prat joins Rafael Bejarano at the top of that list. Bejarano won 13 stakes at the 2012 meeting.
Prat was fortunate to win the $151,500 Mabee Stakes. After setting a slow pace of 24.87 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.60 for a half-mile, Raymundos Secret was fully extended to hold off a late threat from Lady Prancealot by a neck.
Raymundos Secret led by two lengths with a furlong remaining and ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.60. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
Sent off favored, Raymundos Secret paid $4.80.
“She really flew home,” Prat said. “She opened up so much she probably got a little tired at the end. I thought it was a good race.”
Lady Prancealot (8-5) finished a length in front of 23-1 Catch the Eye, who was followed by Zee Drop, Don’t Blame Judy, Quick, Pulpit Rider, and Meal Ticket.
The Mabee Stakes was Raymundos Secret’s first stakes win. The finish gave winning trainer Phil D’Amato a few anxious moments, particularly as he watched Lady Prancealot close well. Lady Prancealot, trained by Richard Baltas, won the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita last December.
“When Flavien Prat took the lead at the quarter-mile, I thought it would be easy,” D’Amato said. “Richie’s horse came flying. We got the job done.”
Raymundos Secret races for Sierra Racing and Sterling Stables. A 4-year-old filly by Treasure Beach, Raymundos Secret is unbeaten in two starts this year, having won her 2020 debut in an optional claimer at a mile on turf.
In 2019, Raymundos Secret was winless in two stakes, finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and fifth in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita. In her career, Raymundos Secret has won 5 of 7 starts and earned $188,971.