Secret Gypsy scores in Distaff

Last updated: 3/21/09 6:24 PM

Secret Gypsy was an easy winner of the Distaff
(Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

Richland Hills Stable and John Kuehl’s SECRET GYPSY (Sea of Secrets) took the
lead soon after the start of Saturday’s $154,800

Distaff H. (G2) at Aqueduct and never relinquished her advantage en route to
a 1 1/4-length victory under jockey Robby Albarado.

The race was marred by the breakdown of Zada Belle (Indian Charlie), who had
moved up to challenge for the lead through the opening half-mile. The bay five-year-old was
pulled up by jockey Ramon Dominguez and vanned off.

While that drama was playing out on the backstretch, Secret Gypsy proceeded
to set splits of :22 2/5, :45 and :56 4/5 before finishing up six furlongs on
the fast inner dirt in 1:10. The Ronny Werner trainee was sent off the 3-5
favorite and returned $3.40, $3 and $2.10 while keying the $24.20 exacta and
$69.50 trifecta (5-3-6). Distorted Passion (Distorted Humor), queen of the
Correction H. two back, was the 11-1 longshot in the field of five but closed to take second by a nose over Royale Michele (Elusive Quality). She
paid $5.70 and $3.40, while Royale Michele gave back $3 at 9-2. Awesome Ashley
(Unbridled’s Song) finished out the order another three lengths back while
Moonshine Alice (Straight Man) was withdrawn.

“It was fantastic and tough to get,” Werner said of the graded victory.
“We’ve been hitting a couple dead spots as far as getting her running on a
regular basis so this was just super. She did break a little slow, for her, but
Robby knows her well, works with her in the morning and did a good job easing
her up and didn’t rush her off her feet.”

“She really does it on her own,” Albarado said. “I didn’t have to push her.
When you ask, (she wins) by a hand ride. She just gives you what she has. I
think I only hit her once — and she came in second that time.”

Secret Gypsy was making her 2009 bow in this spot, having rounded out her
sophomore season with a four-length victory in the Esplanade S. at Fair Grounds
and an 8 1/2-length score in a Churchill Downs allowance. She also ran second in
last year’s Raven Run S. (G2) and third in the Dogwood S. (G3) as well as
setting a new track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga as a juvenile. The four-year-old
improved her record to 9-5-1-1 and has now banked $324,819 in lifetime earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Norman Cheng, Secret Gypsy is the first registered foal
out of the unraced Miss Utada (Rahy), who also has an unnamed juvenile colt by
Royal Academy. She comes from the same family as 1991
Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) and Oaks d’Italia (Ity-G1) victress Possessive Dancer (GB) (Shareef
Dancer), and her fifth dam is 1968 Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Front Row
(*Epaulette). She brought $10,000 from her current owners as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic
two-year-old training purchase.