Sharp Secretary takes Duchess at Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sharp Secretary inherited the lead from pacemaker Simply Spiteful early in the stretch en route to her first stakes score in the $151,200 Duchess at Woodbine Saturday.

It was the third win on the card for leading rider Eurico Da Silva, who put Sharp Secretary in an early outside stalking position. Simply Spiteful opened up a substantial on the backstretch, while setting fast splits of 22.16 and 44.12 seconds in the seven-furlong sprint.

Sharp Secretary began to close the gap nearing the quarter pole, and then took control before holding off Kitty in a Tizzy and Chantilly Nayla to prevail by a length and a quarter, in a time of 1:23.45. Favored Red Hot Buddha was a non-threatening fifth in the eight-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

Sharp Secretary ($8.10) collected $90,000 for Landsdowne Stable, and her victory was the second win on the day for trainer Lorne Richards.

“I’ve always liked her a lot, but I didn’t think she’d be this good,” said Richards. “She’s tenacious. She’s always had a good constitution, and a good work ethic. She’s hard not to like.”