Revealed in more realistic spot
ARCADIA, Calif. - Revealed burst onto the racing scene Nov. 21 with a smashing debut victory that marked her as a potential star. Then just as quickly, the bubble burst.
made her second start Jan. 16 and got trounced more than 28 lengths by Sweet Catomine. Now it is almost a month later, and the handicapping dilemma Thursday at Santa Anita is choosing which Revealed will show up in the race-7 feature.
Will it be the filly who overcame an inside post and two salty opponents to register an 84 Beyer Speed Figure winning her debut? Or will it be the filly who was empty on the far turn of the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel?
Trainer John Shirreffs suggests that bettors should forgive Revealed's second start.
"I kind of threw that race out totally," he said. "Not only was she rank in the beginning, then on the turn she had to take up sharply because there wasn't any room for her."
It was asking a lot, anyway, going from a maiden sprint into a Grade 3 route. And it's not the first time a filly has unraveled in her second start.
"The second race for fillies, and after having run once, they get on the muscle and know what's going on," Shirreffs said. "She was too rank."
Revealed has trained well since, and if she reproduces her debut she can win the optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. Sired by Old Trieste, she is owned and bred by Marty and Pam Wygod and faces seven foes. Shirreffs said turf was not the first preference, but no dirt races were available. Based on Revealed's recent works, it should not matter.
"She's trained well - she's relaxing better on the racetrack," Shirreffs said.
Revealed remains legitimate - the two fillies she beat first time out (Hot Attraction and Eleventh Street) each returned to win. Revealed must improve on the 84 Beyer she earned, because two others have passed that number.
earned an 86 Beyer on dirt last time, her fourth win from seven starts. She is eligible for this first-level allowance because she is entered to be claimed for $80,000.
The field is completed by Swift Wings, Guaranteed Victory, Wise Investor, and the entry of Shush and She Sings.