Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Secret Status will go to post as the 121-pound highweight when she faces seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Gazelle Handicap (gr. I) Saturday at Belmont Park. Secret Status will concede from five to seven pounds to her rivals in the one-turn 1 1/8-mile race.
Secret Status won the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont before finishing third in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Belmont and second in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Both of those races were won by Jostle, who is not scheduled to race again until the Cotillion Handicap (gr. II) on Oct. 7, at Philadelphia Park. One of Secret Status' rivals in the Gazelle will be Resort, second in the CCA Oaks and sixth in the Alabama.
The Gazelle was won last year by eventual 3-year-old filly champion Silverbulletday. The field for this year's renewal will consist of:
1--Trip, Shane Seller, 116
2--A. O. L. Hayes, Jerry Bailey, 114
3--North Lake Jane, Mike Luzzi, 115
4--Resort, John Velazquez, 116
5--Critical Eye, Mike Smith, 115
6--Atelier, Edgar Prado, 114
7--Plenty of Light, Jorge Chavez, 115
8--Secret Status, Pat Day, 121
