Secret Money dances to Music City victory

Tyler Gaffalione gave Secret Money a great trip and Secret Money gave back everything she had to score a game victory in the $1 million Music City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Kentucky Downs.

After tracking a couple lengths off the pace for much of the trip, Gaffalione found a narrow seam between pacesetting Determined Jester and favored Danse Macabre in the final furlong. Secret Money had to squeeze into the gap just as the three horses hit a final dogleg before straightening to the finish; it took athleticism and bravery, but Secret Money got low to the ground, like a panther about to strike, popped through, and went on to a one-length win.

Dance Macabre, who got a favorable trip under Adam Beschizza as the 5-2 favorite, came up second-best on the day, finishing second, three quarters of a length in front of Bling. Bling, cutting back from routes to this 6 1/2-furlong test, ran an incredible race to finish a clear third after blowing the break and spotting the entire Music City field many lengths at the start.

:: Download a free copy of Daily Racing Form's 2023 Kentucky Downs Player's Guide

Brendan Walsh trains Secret Money ($12.98) for Richard Nicolai’s Fortune Farm, Robert Hahn, and Matthew Hand. The filly, bred by WinStar Farm, is by Good Samaritan out of Awesome Humor, by Distorted Humor, and her first stakes victory was a very lucrative one, Secret Money’s connections taking home a little less than $596,000 – not bad for a horse purchased for $40,000 at a 2-year-old auction.

Secret Money didn’t even race at age 2, debuting this past April at Gulfstream Park. She cleared the maiden ranks in a Keeneland turf sprint this past April and came right back with another turf sprint win over first-level allowance horses at Churchill. Badly blocked in upper stretch, she was fifth making her stakes debut in the Alywow at Woodbine, and Secret Money ran well trying two turns for the first time July 19 at Saratoga, holding third after leading the Grade 3 Lake George.

The improving filly was ripe for a cutback to a race at about seven furlongs taking into account a long runup. Prominent from the start, Secret Money raced relaxed and in the bridle as longshot Determined Jester set moderate splits of 22.90 and 46.30. Danse Macabre broke from the rail and was switched outside the pacesetter around the turn, putting Secret Money in a tricky spot that, with guidance from her rider, she was able to overcome.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.