Page 55 - 23 November 2012

governor’s Stakes
haBITS SeCreT
by John Moorehouse
This summer, a disqualification denied Habits Secret his first stakes win after
he reached the wire first in the Heartland Futurity at Indiana Downs. Competing in
the $106,722 Governor’s Stakes on Oct. 27 at Hoosier Park, Ricardo Martinez’s 2-year-old colt left no room for controversy. Habits Secret triumphed in the 350-yard event by daylight, riding the rail to a decisive one-length victory and improving his overall
record to 3-1-0 in six outs. All three wins have come in a row, a streak that began
after the Heartland Futurity, with all three victories com- ing at Hoosier Park. Habits Secret prevailed in a 300- yard maiden on Aug. 24, then kept the streak going in the trials for the Governor’s Stakes. Habits Secret’s trial victory also saw him post the fastest qualifying time for
the futurity, covering the distance in :18.108. Habits Secret was even faster in the stakes
final, finishing in :17.749. This race repre- sented the biggest payday of Habits Secret’s entire career—a $59,290 sum that more than doubled his prior earnings to a new total of $91,649. Martinez also trains Habits Secret and Yordanis Amaro was in the irons.
Such success shouldn’t come as a com- plete surprise given Habits
Secret’s bloodlines. His sire, No Secrets Here, is a former winner of the All American Futurity-G1. Vessels Stallion Farm, LLC bred both Habits Secret and Habitual Dreamer, a half-sister to four stakes winners including Champion Old Habits and Grade 1 winner One More Habit. Two of her five foals have made starts. Habits Secret is the only stakes winner among
Habitual Dreamer’s progeny, but Yellow Submarine B did set a track record in Mexico earlier this year. The second dam is Vessels’ blue-hen mare First Femme.
Stormy Cartel (Carters Cartel-Dinastia Toll BRZ) outnodded Princess Lil Bit (Coronas Leaving You-Princess Toast) to finish second. Martinez also trains Stormy Cartel, who is owned by Alejandro Medina and
had Alejandro Luna in the irons. Gene Cox owns, bred and trains Princess Lil Bit. Harold Collins drew the riding assignment.
Catch This Cartel (Corona Cartel-A True Stoli), Gettin Famous (One Famous Eagle-TMF Asgoodasitgets), Bonos Heart (Bono Jazz-
Biker Babe), Calamity Jamie (Ivory James-El Streaker), Novas Gold (Gold Medal Jess-Hot Nova) and Natovas Courage (Captain Courage- Natovas Dasher) completed the field.
Hoosier Park $106,722 • 350 yards :17.749 • si 95
First Down Dash
No Secrets Here
Dicey Secret
HABITS SECRET, ’10-c.
Apollo TB
Habitual Dreamer
First Femme
racing news
new Mexico Classic Cup 870 Championship
kC royal FluSh
by Tracy Gantz
having never lost at 870 yards and with a six-race winning streak, Rollickin Red went off as the 3-5 favorite in the Oct. 28
New Mexico Classic Cup 870 Championship Stakes. But while he tried valiantly to extend that streak to seven, he didn’t reckon on the veteran KC Royal Flush. In his 36th lifetime start, KC Royal Flush defeated the heavy favorite by a neck.
At first, it didn’t look like KC Royal Flush would have a chance at victory. He broke in midpack, and going into the turn, jockey Brian Theriot had to steady him. They dropped back to sev- enth. When the field fanned out all across the track around the turn, Rollickin Red took the lead. KC Royal Flush tucked in behind horses and ranged up next to Rollickin Red for the stretch
run. In the final 100 yards, KC Royal Flush edged past the favorite to win in :46.577.
Dominic Duree trains KC Royal Flush for owner-breeders Kathryn Maynard and Carla Feerer. The 5-year-old gelding has done his best racing at 870 yards. Last year he captured the John Augustine Stakes and Challenger Six Handicap, and earlier this year he finished third the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association
Handicap and was moved into third in the Augustine upon
a disqualification. All told, he has seven wins in 36 starts with 16 additional top three finishes and earnings of $302,616.
Willie May Dash, the dam of KC Royal Flush, won two of 17 races and has produced one winner in four starters. Second dam My Honeys Alibi ran second in the 1995 AQHA Northwest Juvenile Challenge Stakes.
Casey Lambert rode Rollickin Red (Roll Hennessy Roll TB-Deeheiress) for trainer Todd Fincher and the Rollicking Red Partners. The 4-year-old gelding’s recent
win streak included victories in the Zia 870 Championship Stakes and NMHA Handicap.
Hermenegildo Aldavaz owns and trains third-place Tecate N Lyme (Southern Cartel- Noted Star), and Esgar Ramirez rode him. The 5-year-old gelding had won one of four races at 870 yards this year.
Rounding out the field were Brookstone Flash (Brookstone Bay-Flashy Heifer), Kokopellis Babycakes (Mr Houston-Ms Kokopelli), Pakea Bay (Brookstone Bay-Pakea Kai), Cool Redalo (Redalo-Isn’t Country Cool TB), and Bullets Brother (Real Runaway- Alexanders Lady Luck). Take Me If You Can and Tizy Fit were scratched.
Zia Park $140,240 • 870 yards :46.577
Royal Quick Dash
Sixes Royal
Tempered Glass
KC ROYAL FLUSH, ’07-g.
Willie Wanta Dash
Willie May Dash
My Honeys Alibi
SPEEDHORSE, November 23, 2012 53
Coady Photography Jamie linscott: hoosier Park