Secret Someone breezes to easy victory in Ladies Turf
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Secret Someone, one of the last foals of A.P. Indy still racing, swept to victory Saturday in the 23rd running of the $348,666 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, the first of four straight stakes that ended the opening-day program at Kentucky Downs.
Robby Albarado was aboard Secret Someone for her owner-breeder, the Mt. Brilliant Stable of Greg Goodman. The 5-year-old mare returned $15.40 after finishing a mile in a hand-timed 1:38 over a firm turf. Cash Control was second as the 7-5 favorite after attending all the pace.
“I wish I owned her myself,” winning trainer Mike Stidham said with a laugh from his main base in Chicago. “With her pedigree, and making her a stakes winner – it’s like hitting the lottery. That was really impressive today. She beat some nice horses.”
The final foals of A.P. Indy, a 2000 Hall of Fame inductee and one of the premier sires of the last century, were born in 2011. Secret Someone was produced by Private Gift, by Unbridled.
On a gorgeous late-summer afternoon, Secret Someone was last when the field turned down the long stretch, but within a quarter mile she had passed all seven opponents with an eye-catching outside run. The winning margin was 3 3/4 lengths.
“I had a good trip,” Albarado said. “I saw the whole field race to the bottom of the hill. I saw the favorite between horses, and I applauded that. That kind of helped me a little bit, coming by at the finish. I swung out turning for home and she ran on quick … I didn’t think she could win this easy, but the whole race she was there for me.”
The victory was worth $210,210, more than doubling her bankroll to $405,951. In her prior start, she was eighth at 66-1 in the Grade 1 Beverly D.
All non-claiming races at Kentucky Downs include sizable bonuses paid only to Kentucky-breds eligible to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Virtually all bonuses were earned in the Ladies Turf, which offered a maximum purse of $350,000.
Saturday marked the first of five cards this month at Kentucky Downs. Remaining dates are Sept. 8, 10, 11, 15. The lone graded race, the Grade 3, $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup, is set for next Saturday, Sept. 10.
** About an hour later, Albarado was right back in the paddock winner’s circle after guiding Successful Native to a 10-1 gate-to-wire triumph in the $310,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint.
Based in South Florida for owner Marco Bommarito and trainer Aubrey Maragh, Successful Native broke swiftly from his rail post before holding off Hogy to win by a neck, returning $22.80 after finishing the 6 1/2-furlong distance in 1:17.51. Almasty was third, while Undrafted, the 2-1 favorite in a field of 12, was fourth.
Successful Native came to form at his home track, Gulfstream Park, before finishing second at 16-1 in the July 25 Lucky Coin at Saratoga in his most recent start. The 5-year-old horse earned a career-high $206,490 from his 18th start Saturday and now has a bankroll of $454,390.