Secret Reserve wouldn't mind a washed-off Lake Superior Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Secret Reserve goes for his third win in a row in the $80,000 Lake Superior at Woodbine, one of two seven-furlong turf stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds on Friday’s card, along with the $80,000 Thunder Bay for fillies.
Secret Reserve is unbeaten in three starts on the Tapeta, including his five-furlong debut in September 2020. When he returned from a 10-month layoff in a five-furlong inner-turf allowance on July 11, he faded to fifth after getting away slowly while bumped hard at the break.
Secret Reserve dusted nonwinners-of-two rivals in a six-furlong Ontario-sired allowance on July 24. He got his second straight 83 Beyer Speed Figure winning the seven-furlong Elgin Stakes for graduates of yearling sales in another dominant performance Aug. 29.
Secret Reserve’s only loss came on turf in a five-furlong allowance sprint at Woodbine on July 11, his first start off a 10-month layoff. Secret Reserve’s trainer, Mike Mattine, said he wouldn’t mind seeing the Lake Superior come off the grass, but has no qualms with running the son of Giant Gizmo on the turf.
“He should be able to handle it,” Mattine said. “He’s doing very good. They’re calling for rain. If it comes off, even better. If it stays on, he’s still okay.”
Red River Rebel could vie for favoritism with Secret Reserve. Both were ridden in their last race by Rafael Hernandez, who’s back on Secret Reserve.
Justin Stein rides Red River Rebel, who graduated second time out in the Frost King Stakes for Ontario-sired juveniles in November. Red River Rebel made his first three starts for trainer Rachel Halden. In his first start for trainer Kevin Attard, he wound up third as the favorite in the Queenston Stakes for Ontario-breds on July 11.
After a disappointing turf experiment in the Greenwood Stakes on Aug. 14, Red River Rebel came wide from well off a hotly contested pace to take the restricted Lake Erie Stakes on the dirt Sept. 14 at Fort Erie.
Lorena meets familiar rival Jilli Marie in the Thunder Bay, and they’ll both compete on turf for the first time if the race stays on. Both are dropping out of the open Duchess Stakes, from which runner-up Aug Lutes exited to win the Glen Cove Stakes at Belmont with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trained by Stuart Simon, Lorena has won 4 of 5 sprint starts, including the Fury and Algoma stakes. She was a front-running eighth in the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks.
Lorena finished a respectable fifth in the seven-furlong Duchess, ending up 4 1/4 lengths back of victorious Miss Speedy. Lorena is by Souper Speedy, and her second dam is all turf.
Jilli Marie was never in contention after getting away slowly in the Duchess. She’s by graded turf stakes winner Dynamic Sky.
“She’s bred for the grass,” trainer Katerina Vassilieva said. “We were always planning to try her on it. However, this time of year is not ideal to be trying it . . . hoping it comes off.”