Page 58 - 17 August 2012

Governor’s Cup Futurity-rG2
SeCreTLY HoT
by Tracy Gantz
How many people strike gold with
their very first racehorse? That’s what Gildardo Garcia did, buying Secretly Hot for
$30,000 and winning the Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2 for a first-place winner’s check of $157,500.
Garcia, who lives in Downey, California, and runs a Southern
California chain of Mexican
eateries called La Barca
Restaurants, owns and rides Andalusian horses. Last year he decided to branch out and buy a racehorse. He attended the 2011 Los Alamitos Equine Sale and selected Secretly Hot for $30,000.
“We knew the horse had a big heart,” said Garcia.
The filly is indeed game
and is a neck shy of being
undefeated. She just missed
catching A Walking Secret in
her racing debut at Los Alamitos on April 28 with Rodrigo Aceves aboard, who has ridden her in every start.
Since then, Secretly Hot has been perfect. She drew off to crush maiden opponents by 1 1/4 lengths on June 8 and scored a half-length victory in her July 13 trial for the Governor’s Cup despite veering out at the start.
Secretly Hot’s trial time put her in the
middle of the qualifiers, but bettors noted her ability and sent her off as the 2-1 favorite in the final. Beg Stel Or Borrow broke on top from the outside while Secretly Hot brushed slightly with Henoshersecret to her outside.
Secretly Hot and Remembering Spence joined Beg Stel Or Borrow on the lead, the
three of them battling to the wire together. Secretly Hot edged Beg Stel Or Borrow by a nose, with Remembering Spence another nose back in third. Secretly Hot traveled the 350 yards in :17.527.
“She’s extremely healthy, and that makes training
her very easy,” said trainer Francisco Ramirez.
Garcia said he knew from the trials that she could over- come a less-than-perfect start.
“We were very confident that she was ready for this
race,” he said. “We trust in the horse.”
Garcia hopes to put his only filly up against
“the best horses” in some of the upcoming big futurities. He mentioned the Oct. 6 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G2 and Nov. 4 Golden State Million Futurity-G1 as possibilities.
The Governor’s Cup Futurity was the richest race on Los Alamitos’ California Breeders Champions Night, devoted entirely to
California-breds. Dr. Ed Allred, who owns the racetrack, bred Secretly Hot, one of six he bred that won on the card.
Secretly Hot is out of Allred’s homebred winning mare Secret Reflection, who has produced nine winners from 16 starters. The mare’s biggest earner to date is On Reflection, who bankrolled $148,365, won the 1999 Jazzing Hi Handicap, and placed in eight other stakes. Three other winners, Greek Gus, With Reflections, and Secret Look, have placed in stakes. Secretly Hot’s third dam is World Champion Charger Bar.
Double Bar S Ranch LLC bred and owns Beg Stel Or Borrow (Stel Corona-Big On Charm). Ry Eldeberry rode the filly for trainer Joe Bassett. Beg Stel Or Borrow ran second in her Futurity trial.
Eduardo Nicasio piloted Remembering Spence (TR Dasher-Sables Bono), another Allred-bred, for owner Francisco Guzman and trainer Juan Aleman. Remembering Spence won the June 24 Ed Burke Memorial Juvenile.
Rounding out the field were Don Loncho (Walk Thru Fire-Takin Some Gold), Clever Me (TR Dasher-So Clever), La Gata Negra (Walk Thru Fire-Miss Kittys Bar Bet), Henoshersecret (No Secrets Here- Shenoshercorona), I Go Out Walkin (Walk Thru Fire-Rieda Hay Worth), Swindler (TR Dasher-Crooksy), and Docs All Heart (TR Dasher-Kindhearted).
Los Alamitos $375,000 • 350 yards :17.527 • si 88
First Down Dash
Walk Thru Fire
Sweet Beduino
SECRETLY HOT, ’10-f.
Raise A Secret
Secret Reflection
Perfect Reflection
Secretly Hot (#8) overcame a bumped start and was up at the wire under jockey Rodrigo Aceves in the $375,000 Governor's Cup Futurity at Los Alamitos.
56 SPEEDHORSE, August 17, 2012
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