Page 75 - 8March2013.pdf

South Florida Derby
HABITS SECRET
by Michael Compton
Habits Secret picked an ideal spot to redis- cover his best stride. Owned and trained by Ricardo Martinez, the 3-year-old California-
bred son of No Secrets Here had finished off the board in two of his last three starts after win- ning the Governor’s Stakes at Hoosier Park last October. But with California jockey Alejandro Luna in for the mount, Habits Secret captured the marquee event during Hialeah’s closing
day program, streaking to a facile victory in the $208,090 South Florida Derby.
Dismissed at odds of 13-1, Habits Secret broke sharply under Luna from his inside post. The sorrel colt was never threatened in the 440-yard test and crossed the wire 1 1⁄4-lengths clear of his nearest pursuer Hey List. Habits Secret stopped the timer in :21.540 in winning the 4th running of the race and earned a speed index of 95.
“This is a special win,” said Martinez. “I bought him for $5,000 as a baby and now he has earned almost $200,000. It really means a lot to me to see him run
like that.”
The South Florida Derby was the second stakes score for Habits Secret, who crossed
the finish first in the $118,000 Heartland Futurity at Indiana Downs in June of 2012 but was disqualified and placed second for inter- ference in the lane.
The past performance
running lines for Habits
Secret reveal that the talented colt has had trouble with his take-offs of late. He reared
at the start of the Hialeah Laddie Futurity on Dec. 30, ultimately finishing 10th and last; and then ducked in twice during a third-place finish in his trial race on Jan. 26. Despite the trouble, he secured the ninth qualifying spot for the main event.
“He’s had trouble at the gate during this meeting,” Martinez related. “I’ve been work- ing with him to correct it. I was happy with his break today. You just never know with him. He could break right or left. I was glad he had his mind on business today. Alejandro rode a great race.”
Now a winner in four of 10 lifetime starts, Habits Secret, bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, boasts earnings of $184,534. He had a
Habits Secret confidently crosses the finish 1 1/4-lengths to the good under Alejandro Luna.
three-race win streak snapped in his first start of the Hialeah meet last December before being
hindered by those gate troubles in his most recent two outings prior to the South Florida Derby.
Habits Secret is out of the Apollo-TB mare Habitual Dreamer. Winless in her rac- ing career, Habitual Dreamer is the dam of additional winner Yellow Submarine
IB, who set a track record in Mexico for 330 yards, getting the distance in :15.816.
Runner-up Hey List (Carters Cartel-Shes a Strawfly), second wagering
choice in the race, rallied under Gerardo Garridofor owner Horse Special Award Inc.
and trainer Eduardo Morales. Third-place fin- isher James On The Run (Ivory James-Injun On the Run) was piloted by Oscar Rincon for owner Rancho Los Dos Potrillos LLC and trainer Brandon Muniz.
Carverson, the fastest qualifier from the Jan. 26 trials and the 3-1 race favorite, endured a troubled trip for jockey Manuel Gutierrez. Carverson bumped at the break and bore out in the lane before crossing the finish in 6th.
Reporting home behind the top three were Mi Angela (Jet Black Patriot-Dashin Follies), Rawhide Creek (Ivory James-Pritzi Too), Carverson (Wave Carver-Miss Razz Chick), Jessaraceaway (Mr Jess Perry-Miss Racy Vike), Nomomonkeybizness (Easy Winning Jet-Hot Stuffs Domino), Streakin Carter (Carters Cartel-Streakin Jessie Gail), and Panther Speed (Panther Mountain-Shaded in Speed).

First Down Dash
No Secrets Here
Dicey Secret
HABITS SECRET, ‘10-c.
Apollo-TB
Habitual Dreamer
First Femme
Habits Secret’s winning connections include owner/breeder Ricardo Martinez and jockey Alejandro Luna.
SPEEDHORSE, March 8, 2013 73
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography Coady Photography