Supercharger surges late in Secretariat for stakes-debut triumph
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Cherie DeVaux trains the leading dirt route 3-year-old in North America, the leading dirt-sprint 3-year-old in North America, and, as was evidenced Saturday at Colonial Downs, one of the top 3-year-old turf route horses, Supercharger, who won the Secretariat in his stakes debut.
Supercharger powered home under Manny Franco and overhauled even-money favorite Alpyland in the final half-furlong, holding clear Infiltrate to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat.
Defeating Alpyland, a six-time winner who had captured the American Derby and the Penn Mile in his last two starts, is not inconsequential, and Supercharger, winning his third straight, now rates among the upper echelon in his division. Stark Contrast would head that group, but has not posted a timed workout since June 19. DeVaux also trains Remember Mamba, runner-up in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, a colt at least as good as Supercharger.
DeVaux already has equaled her graded-stakes haul from all of 2025, landing her sixth such race. Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, leading the 3-year-old division, while Englishman whistled in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens to stake his claim as the best sophomore sprinter in the land.
Supercharger, by Constitution out of She’s Our Charm, by Candy Ride, needed four tries just to win for the first time, in great part because of his poor gate habits. He benefitted a fast pace closing from far back to capture maiden and allowance races at Churchill Downs, but on Saturday got away much better and raced sixth of eight, about six lengths behind pacesetting Conducted, into the first turn.
Conducted, under a rating hold, went 23.40 and 47.68 while tracked by Street Beast, Alpyland going three wide into the far turn, coming to pressure Conducted approaching the three-furlong marker. Tyler Gaffalione on Infiltrate followed Alpyland, while Franco got onto Infiltrate’s tail around the second part of the bend, the field fanning out upon entering the homestretch. Alpyland had passed Conducted at the 3/16 pole and put him away by the furlong grounds, but no sooner had he gone clear than Alpyland appeared to run out of gas. Infiltrate got first run at him, but Supercharger made the best move on the far outside, pushing out to a half-length victory.
Infiltrate, turning in a good performance while making his turf debut and first start since November, finished a neck ahead of Alpyland, followed by Fuzzbuster, Turf Star, Conducted, Street Beast, and Vino Solo. Supercharger ran 1 1/16 miles over a firm course in 1:21.24 and paid $8.40 as the second choice.
Supercharger campaigns for the C R K Stable and was bred by Ron McAnally and Deborah McAnally. Trainer DeVaux has another stakes-winning 3-year-old in her stable.
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