Smooth Player Wins Lady's Secret

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Smooth Player took advantage of a fast early pace to defeat Speaking of Time by three lengths in Monday's $204,600 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita.

Longshot Aristosa jumped out to an early lead, setting fractions of :23.13, :46.30, and 1:10.20 for the first six furlongs. Rounding the second turn, the leader was joined by Saudi Poetry and those two dueled before bumping each other in upper stretch. Speaking of Time angled in at the seven-eighths pole and was eventually taken outside by jockey Matt Garcia but was unable to make up any ground on the winner. Bordelaise, the 3-2 favorite who had to check at the seven-eighths pole, finished third, followed by Aristosa, Saudi Poetry, and Kumari Connection.

Smooth Player completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 1-5 and paid $12, $6.40 and $3.20. Speaking Of Time returned $7.80 and $3.20 and Bordelaise paid $2.40 to show.

The 4-year-old daughter of Bertrando ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye for trainer Dan Hendricks posted her seventh victory in her 17th career start. Bred and owned by Martin J. Wygod and John Spohler, Smooth Player began her career with five consecutive victories but won just one of her last eight starts.

Hendricks said the filly's next start had not been determined but that she is not being pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Among the alternatives being considered are the California Cup and a grass race the week after the Cal Cup.

Meanwhile, trainer Barry Abrams criticized Garcia's ride with Speaking of Time. "My horse should have won the race," Abrams said. "All (Garcia) had to do was stay outside...he went down inside where the track is deep. If she'd have stayed outside, we'd have won the race."

"Barry yelled at me and thought it was a horrible ride," Garcia said. "He thought the inside was deep and that I should have known it was deep. Those things happen, and that's horse racing. But the winner was a tough horse today. Speaking of Time is a beautiful filly and she runs her heart out every day. I love her because she's so game and I just hop I get to ride her again."

(Chart, Equibase)

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