Secretary At War to test speed in Woodhaven

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens will try to stretch Secretary At War out in distance a little bit in Saturday’s $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes for 3-year-olds.

The Woodhaven, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of only five for the turf. Two others were entered for the main track only.

Secretary At War, a son of War Front owned and bred by Joe Allen, is coming off a maiden win going 7 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. Prior to that, he finished third in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Gulfstream after breaking from post 12.

Speaking of his maiden win, Jerkens said Secretary At War “galloped to the lead and kept on going.”

“He’s got nice, easy speed, it looks like,” he said.

The Woodhaven features the 3-year-old debut of Frostmourne, who hasn’t run since taking the Awad Stakes at Belmont last Oct. 29. The Christophe Clement trainee had two wins from three starts at 2 and has been training steadily at the Payson Park training center all winter.

Royal by Nature, second to Frostmourne in the Awad, is also making his 3-year-old debut in this spot for trainer Brad Cox. Bird’s Eye View and Shamsaan complete the field. Bonus Points and Outplay are the two main-track-only entrants.

Also on Saturday’s card is the $100,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Bluegrass Flag, six-length winner of the Cicada Stakes, heads a field of six entered to run 6 1/2 furlongs.