Secondary School gets second shot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Secondary School and Elana d'Amour stand out over four other fillies and mares in the $40,000 Brighouse Belles at Hastings on Sunday. Elana d'Amour got the best of Secondary School in the 6 1/2-furlong Strawberry Morn Stakes earlier in the meet, but the advantage should go to Secondary School in this 1 1/8-mile contest.

Secondary School, trained by David Forster, is coming off an impressive win in the Sun Handicap, her first time going a middle distance. She had a three-wide trip and made a powerful move around the stretch turn while going even wider to take command of the race. And while her margin looked like it was diminishing as they approached the wire, she appeared to shift into another gear when Castle Mountain loomed outside of her. It's doubtful any of them would have gotten past her if the race had been longer.

Forster sent Secondary School out for a strong five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds June 22 and said he is pleased with how she is coming into Sunday's race.

Secondary School, who will have Larry Lacoursiere aboard, is lightly raced and has won 4 of 5 career starts. Her only loss came in the Strawberry Morn, where she was impeded by eventual winner Elana d'Amour approaching the quarter pole and then again by tiring horses at the top of the stretch.

Elana d'Amour, trained by Joe Apperloo, is coming off a rare dull performance in the Washington State Legislators Handicap on May 25, but it can be attributed to a couple of things. It was her first trip to Emerald Downs, where she appeared to struggle over the surface, and she bled.