Secret Spice sizzles in work for BC Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – Secret Spice had a target Sunday morning at Santa Anita, and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender delivered a sharp half-mile workout as trainer Richard Baltas tries to ration her speed in advance of the $2 million Distaff on Nov. 2.

Working a half-mile at 6:40 a.m., Secret Spice broke off behind a Baltas-trained workmate, went after that rival in the lane, smoked her final quarter-mile in 22.60 seconds on Baltas’s watch, and was given a 47.60 official time by track clockers.

“Very impressive,” Baltas said. “It was a little quicker than I wanted, but she did it easy.”

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Baltas believes Secret Spice is more effective pressing the pace rather than setting the pace, and hopes she can ration her speed in the Distaff. She earned the two highest speed figures of her career from a pressing position. Last time out, she found herself setting the pace in Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes, and finished second as the odds-on favorite.

In the Zenyatta, Secret Spice is believed to have displaced her palate, which restricts oxygen. She now wears a figure eight while training, plans call for her to wear it in the Distaff. The equipment, placed on a horse’s head, keeps the horse’s mouth closed to make them to breathe through their nose to help prevent displacement. It is estimated that less than 10 percent of horses wear a figure eight.

John Velazquez will replace Flavien Prat on Distaff contender Secret Spice according to Billy Koch, managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing Stable, which owns Secret Spice with Bobby Flay.

Secret Spice will work twice more prior to the Distaff. Baltas plans to give her a workmate target for her next workout also. Secret Spice, a Grade 1 winner, has won three races and $548,510 from 13 starts.