Secret Request (12) races to victory in the Sunshine Millions Ocala Breeders' Sales Distaff ahead of Smoke'n Frolic, Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Overlooked at 74-1 odds, J D Farms' Florida homebred Secret Request split horses in deep stretch and got up for a three-quarter length upset victory in the $500,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Distaff at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.Ridden by Eibar Coa, who replaced Craig Perret aboard the Florida-bred filly, Secret Request got off to a slow start and was last in the 12-horse field through the first half mile as Ivanavinalot and Crimson and Roses set a moderate pace. Secret Request progressed along the inside on the far turn, was forced to angle outside the leaders in midstretch before charging to the lead just before the finish. The final time for1 1/16 miles was 1:45.16.The winner, trained by David R. Brownlee, paid $150.40, $45.20, and $17.20. Smok'n Frolic also rallied late to be second, returning $6.20 and $4.40, and Scapade finished third, paying $7.60 to show. The exacta was worth $408.90. House Party, the 5-2 favorite, finished seventh."On paper I didn't have a shot," Coa said. "So I decided to take my own shot and take back and save ground along the rail. I waited for a spot, and then one opened up. At the three-eighths pole, I still didn't know if I could get there, but at the eighth pole I knew I could.""Oh my God! It surprised me only because she broke from the 12 hole," Brownlee said. "I knew she would hit the board, though. She's got a ton of class. She taught them a lesson. No one was reading the form. They were all looking at the big names, but I knew she was a class act. She's a homebred. These people (J D Farm) have really paid their dues and I'm happy for them."A daughter of Jules -- Foxy Persuasion (by General Assembly), Secret Reques has won five of 16 starts and earned $401,182.(Chart, Equibase)
