Secret Faith possible for Charles Town Oaks
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Secret Faith, who picked up the seventh stakes win of her career in a $75,000 division of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes on Aug. 1 at Evangeline Downs, is being considered for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks, according to trainer Jayde Gelner.
Secret Faith won the Stallion Stakes by 14 3/4 lengths, while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.49. For the effort, Secret Faith equaled her best career Beyer Speed Figure, an 88.
“She was impressive,” Gelner said. “She went 1:10 and change for the three-quarter split and she was just doing it in hand. Whenever you go 1:10 and change in hand, that’s pretty good.
“She was a second off the track record and she was never asked.”
The Charles Town Oaks is Aug. 22. It’s a seven-furlong race around two turns, and Secret Faith has already won a pair of seven-furlong stakes at the configuration at Delta Downs. Gelner said another next-race option is the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, where Secret Faith would face older rivals for the first time on Aug. 30 at Louisiana Downs.
“We’re going to weigh our options with her,” Gelner said. “We might consider the Charles Town Oaks, kind of just go from there. That’s kind of what we have for right now. Either that, or we’ll come to Cup Day.”
Gelner had another stakes winner last weekend at Evangeline in Mor Force, who won a division of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity. Gelner said he is being pointed to the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile on Aug. 30 at Louisiana Downs.
Secret Faith and Mor Force both race for Norman Stables, which also owns the Lonnie Briley-trained Coal Battle.
Gelner has a division of runners at Remington.
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