Secret Action edges Moon Rainbow in Carotene

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Secret Action rallied up the rail in the final strides under jockey David Moran to upset the heavily favored Moon Rainbow in Monday’s $150,000 Carotene Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf route for Ontario-bred 3-year old fillies.

Secret Action ($59.60) broke sharply along the rail in the field of seven, and settled into a nice stalking position behind Pengally Bay, who set a moderate pace of 24.59 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.25 seconds for the opening half-mile.

At the top of the lane, Secret Action angled off the rail and commenced a two-wide rally. Moon Rainbow and Ice Festival were in front in the final furlong, but Secret Action caught Moon Rainbow in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.15 for 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course. Ice Festival held on for third over Conquest Strate Up.

“The key to this filly running any way good is you have to get her back, because she jumps out like a bear and puts her head up,” Moran said. “As soon as she gets cover, she lopes along the backside. It took a couple of starts for us to figure it out, but each time she’s done it, she’s run a huge race. She was very, very game in her finish today.”

Secret Action recorded her first stakes victory in the Carotene and has now won two races in a row, having won a first-level allowance on Polytrack on Sept. 19. Trainer Mike Doyle said he’s always liked Secret Action, and it’s taken some time for the filly to find her best stride.

“She showed plenty (last year), but she didn’t quite get there,” he said. “She grew and she seemed to be growing early in the year when she ran her first couple of starts.”

Secret Action banked the $90,000 winner’s share in the Carotene and now has career earnings of $167,183 with a record of three wins from eight starts.