SECRET FAITH MOST IMPRESSIVE IN THE $70,000 D.S. ‘SHINE’ YOUNG FUTURITY ~ CLEARLY A TEST WINS TOUGH BATTLE IN THE LOUISIANA STALLION STAKES
Secret Faith wins the filly division of the D.S. Shine Young Futurity
Secret Faith kept her undefeated record intact with a dazzling performance in the $70,000 D.S. ‘Shine’ Young Futurity for 2-year-olds, and Clearly a Test captured the $100,000 Louisiana Stallion Stakes presented by Coteau Grove Farms for the 3-year-old division. The races were contested over a track rated fast for the evening.
Secret Faith wowed the Friday night crowd with an impressive stretch burst to easily win the filly division of the $70,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity. The futurity was contested over the distance of 5-1/2 furlongs.
Jockey C.J. McMahon and Secret Faith were away alertly in the futurity but allowed Devil’s Pool to lead the field to the far turn. The duo raced together through an opening quarter-mile in 22.27 seconds, with the pair of Quite the Catch and Call Me Susan the closest pursuers. As the field turned into the stretch, Secret Faith started to edge away from Devil’s Pool, with Call Me Susan and Bella Sorella in their own battle for the minors.
With a furlong to go, Secret Faith kicked it into another gear and raced away to a 14-length winning margin. Call Me Susan held for second, with Bella Sorella another five lengths behind in third. The winner stopped the clock in a sharp time of 1:04.47.
Trained by Jayde Gelner, the winner is owned by Norman Stables, LLC (Robert Norman) and keeps her record perfect from three starts. The winning purse of $42,000 increases her bankroll to $152,400.
Bred by J. Adcock and Hume Wornall, she is a gray/roan filly sired by Aurelius Maximus. She is out of the Macho Uno mare St. Jean.
Sent off as the prohibitive favorite, Secret Faith paid $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Call Me Susan returned $7.20 and $3.80, with Bella Sorella paying $2.20.
Clearly A Test edges Jet Rocket to win the filly division of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes
Jockey Jose Guerrero and Clearly a Test had to battle all the way to capture the $100,000 Louisiana Stallion Stakes presented by Coteau Grove Farms. The race is for runners sired by a stallion domiciled in the state of Louisiana and was contested at the distance of one mile.
Tommie G was away sharply to lead the field, reduced to four runners after a scratch, through the opening stages. Jet Rocket and Clearly a Test tracked in close attendance, while Island Gold dropped back and was never a factor. As the field moved through the far turn, Tommie G was under siege with Clearly a Test and Jet Rocket both moving to confront the leader.
At the top of the stretch Clearly a Test moved to take the lead, but Jet Rocket was ready for the challenge as the pair edged away from Tommie G. The duel continued all the way to the wire with Clearly a Test winning by a head, with another 2-1/2 lengths back to Tommie G in third. The winner stopped the timer in 1:39.63, with the internal fractions unavailable.
Owned and bred by Brittlyn Stables, Inc. (Evelyn Benoit), Clearly a Test wins for the third time in 12 career starts. With the $60,000 winner’s share, her career bankroll now stands at $238,500.
Trained by Shane Wilson, the bay filly was sired by Clearly Now. She is out of the Star Guitar mare Testing One Two.
Clearly a Test returned $3.20 to win as the favorite and $2.40 to place. Jet Rocket paid $3 to place. No show wagering was offered in the four-horse field.