Secret Time could be live off layoff

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Danny Gargan has high hopes for Secret Time, even with the German-bred mare having won just one of 12 starts and being away from the races for almost six months.

“The time off has been really good for her,” said Gargan. “I think she’ll come back running.”

Gargan has enlisted Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride Secret Time in the Friday feature at Gulfstream Park, a $61,000 first-level allowance that drew a full field of 12 fillies and mares going about 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Secret Time will be making her third start since being turned over to Gargan last spring.

“We ran her twice at Saratoga and she was drained afterward, which is why we gave her a break,” said Gargan, who began this week with 373 career wins in nine years of training. “She’s training very well and I like her a lot. We’re going to try to run her all year and do some good with her.”

Secret Time, purchased for $170,000 last April at Keeneland by Spedale Family Racing and Jonathan Thorne, finished third, then eighth in her two Saratoga tries. Following seven workouts since mid-December, all on the Palm Meadows turf, the 5-year-old bay mare figures to have Lilac Girl and Mona Stella as her chief opposition Friday, although Star Seeking or Caroline’s Story also would attract strong tote action if she draws in from the also-eligibles list.

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Lilac Girl, a promising Augustin Stable homebred, is one of a handful of starters in the main body stretching out off shorter races. That group includes Mona Stella, who stands to improve substantially over a subpar Feb. 3 comeback by moving back to the grass.

The feature goes as the eighth of 10 races on a Friday card and therefore is part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 5-10) expected to offer a pool of at least $1.3 million. Track officials have tentatively planned a mandatory disbursement of the Rainbow 6 jackpot for Saturday, assuming the pool isn’t swept by a solo winner on any of the three preceding days. The Rainbow 6 was last emptied Jan. 30 by forceout.

First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern. A $54,000 first-level turf allowance (race 3) for Florida-bred fillies and mares going five furlongs on the turf is part of the card. Gargan and Ortiz will team with one of the main contenders in there, too, with Simply the Best.

As always, at least one Friday race at Gulfstream will be part of the $1-minimum Stronach 5 wager exclusive to 1/ST tracks.

A firm turf course and fast main track can be expected given the lack of rain in the local forecast throughout this week. The Friday high will be around 80.