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Secret Circle punches ticket to BC Juvenile Sprint

Secret Circle has won his two starts by 12 1/2 lengths combined (Benoit Photos) After Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman's Secret Circle romped by 5 1/4 lengths in Monday's $71,340 Jack Goodman Stakes at Santa Anita, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was quick to identify the new Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint as his next target. Secret Circle, a 7 1/4-length debut winner at Del Mar on July 23, is now unbeaten from two starts. The 3-5 favorite, who sizzled six furlongs in 1:08 1/5 on the fast track, was a revelation to his pleasantly surprised trainer. "He sort of surprised me that he ran that fast," Baffert said. "I gave him a little time off, freshened him up, so this should set him up for the new Breeders' Cup Sprint race (at this six-furlong distance at Churchill Downs on November 4). That's what our goal is...If all's well, it's on to Churchill." The Jack Goodman did not unfold according to plan, however. When Sweet Swap and A Toe by Three set off in a blistering speed duel, jockey Rafael Bejarano ended up calling an audible aboard Secret Circle and wisely allowed his mount to track in third.

Track announcer Trevor Denman observed that the leaders were blazing along like Quarter Horses through an opening quarter in :21 1/5. The pace didn't slacken much as they reached the half-mile mark in :44 1/5, and the early exertion cost them both.

Secret Circle traveled smoothly into contention leaving the far turn, blew by A Toe by Three and Sweet Swap at the head of the lane, and rapidly opened up. The winner clocked his five-furlong split in :56 1/5 and widened his advantage in a visually impressive display.

"I thought I was going to be the speed of the race," Bejarano said, "and that number 5 (Sweet Swap) was going to follow. When my horse broke I tried to stay in the lead, but I saw the number 5 keep rushing his horse, so I didn't try to work my horse too hard. I just let him settle and put him behind, waiting for the stretch. I had a perfect position after that.

"When I came to the stretch, I was clear and he just took off. It was unbelievable -- he ran better than the last time. I didn't use the whip, I just galloped and cruised. He was different today. He felt much better on the dirt (compared to Del Mar's Polytrack). He took a little dirt in the face, but he was fine and just kept running. He's going to be even better next time."

"He's never been behind like that," Baffert said. "Those two horses took off like that, though, and I hoped he (Bejarano) didn't get involved. He was smart enough to get off of there (the pace), so that was good. He looked good.

"That's a fast horse... I'm sort of half-shocked, the way he ran. He doesn't show that in the mornings. It's amazing."

Galex rallied from well back for second, and Panettone checked in third. A Toe by Three and Sweet Swap were fourth and fifth, respectively, while Scallion lagged in the rear throughout after missing the start.

Bred by Willmott Stables in Kentucky, Secret Circle was purchased for $165,000 as a two-year-old in training at OBS in March. The bay colt has now earned $78,990.

The son of Eddington is out of the multiple stakes-winning Dixieland Band mare Ragtime Hope.

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