Seacrettina set for big leap

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Joe Petalino consistently comes up with a good 2-year-old each season at Lone Star Park.

Last year, local debut winner Dill or No Dill went on to defeat males in a Remington Park stakes, was sold privately, and won a stakes at Aqueduct. The season before, Great Hunter was a Lone Star maiden winner for Petalino. He was then sold privately and went on to win the Gradeo1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

This year, Seacrettina is one of the best of Petalino's crop of 2-year-olds. She was a good-looking debut winner May 4, and has since been preparing for her stakes debut, which will come Saturday in the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Lone Star.

"I think she's got quite a bit of ability," said Petalino.

Seacrettina made her debut in a 4o1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Lone Star. She won by two lengths, and three horses she defeated, Lil Pink Cadillac, Texas Royal Whiz, and Morethanafantasy, all came back in their next starts to win maiden special weight races. In her debut, Seacrettina won wire-to-wire and earned a Beyer Figure of 79.

"She ran about how I thought she would," said Petalino. "She's got a lot of speed."

Since the race, Seacrettina appears to have moved forward. She shows a nice series of works for the Silver Spur, among her recent drills a six-furlong move in 1:13 on July 5.

"It was a very good work," said Petalino. "She galloped out strong."

Ken Tohill has the mount on Seacrettina, who races for Baccari Racing. A $65,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September, she is a half-sister to Ramsgate, who in February ran third in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita.

Her chief rivals include Bridesmaid, the winner of the fillies division of the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity. In her most recent start, Bridesmaid was second by a head in the fillies division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes here July 12. She is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Postponed. Luis Quinonez has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Another starter of interest is Time Well Spent, a 14-length debut winner at Louisiana Downs on June 14. Michelle Lovell trains the filly and Carlos Gonzalez travels in to ride.