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Leah's no secret in Top Flight

WinStar Farm's LEAH'S SECRET (Tiger Ridge) was briefly unloaded from the starting gate prior to the start of Friday's $150,000 Top Flight H. (G2) at Aqueduct, and after resuming her place with the rest of the seven fillies and mares, proved their superior over the fast one-turn mile. Traveling off the rail in fifth after a quarter-mile, Leah's Secret advanced to third approaching the far turn, engaged the early leader Slewfoundmoney (Seeking the Gold) in the stretch, then got the best of that one late to win by three-quarters of a length under Eibar Coa in a time of 1:36 2/5. The slight 5-2 favorite, Leah's Secret returned $7.60, $3.70 and $2.70 while topping the $33.40 exacta, $170.50 trifecta and $1,556 superfecta (1-4-7-8).

Racing three-wide down the backside, Slewfoundmoney passed the first quarter a half-length in front of Any Limit (Limit Out), clipping off that fraction in :23 1/5. She soon yielded to that rail-skimming rival, who moved ahead by a length after a half in :45 4/5 and by a half-length after six furlongs in 1:10 4/5. Leah's Secret soon ranged up behind those two, while the rest of the field failed to make much headway the rest of the way. After surrendering the lead to the winner, Slewfoundmoney still found herself 1 1/2 lengths clear in second, returning $4 and $3 as the near 3-1 second choice. Boca Grande (A.P. Indy), the Phipps Stable colorbearer, mounted a rally to get third by three parts of a length. She brought back $4.20 at 7-1. So Glitzy (Gilded Time) capped the superfecta and was followed by Altesse (A.P. Indy), Any Limit, Shining Image (Northern Afleet) and Rite Moment (Vicar). Weathered (Key Contender) was scratched.

"It was big run from her," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "She did everything professionally. I'm pretty sure she has a date with Distorted Humor, but she is eligible for the (January 24) Sunshine Millions (Distaff at Santa Anita). She's in such good form now that I might ask WinStar for one more race."

Leah's Secret had been better known for her exploits on Polytrack prior to a recent half-length decision in the Chilukki S. (G2) at Churchill Downs, also at a one-turn mile. Her two prior graded victories were both on Polytrack, in the 2006 Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland and the Chicago H. (G3) at Arlington Park earlier this year. Her other stakes wins, the Lazer Show H. and Anne Arundel S. in 2006, were both on dirt, and she also owns runner-up finishes in the Louisville S. (G2) Allaire duPont Distaff S. (G2) and Arlington Matron H. (G3). Her line now reads 25-8-4-2, $865,805.

Bred in Florida by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Leah's Secret is the first foal from the winning Lady Cruella (Capote), who is also the dam of a yearling colt by Roar of the Tiger and a weanling colt by Bluegrass Cat. The winner's third dam, the multiple stakes-winning Great Lady M. (Icecapade), is responsible for Horse of the Year and $3 million earner Lady's Secret (Secretariat).

Purchased for $50,000 as a yearling at the 2004 OBS August sale, Leah's Secret sold for $525,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale last fall.


 


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