- October 24, 2021
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Jockey Kazushi Kimura urges Our Secret Agent to victory in the Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine
Our Secret Agent , under patient handling from Kazushi Kimura, was full of run late and won the CA$156,000 Hendrie Stakes (G3), a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint for fillies and mares Oct. 23 at Woodbine. The stake was one of two on the Saturday card, preceding the $250,800 Princess Elizabeth Stakes by a couple of hours.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse for owner Gary Barber, Our Secret Agent, a 4-year-old was making her tenth straight start at Woodbine and won her first race since an allowance score last August at the Toronto oval.
Our Secret Agent, ch, 4/f
Secret Circle — Avalos, by Holy Bull
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Paul Tackett Revocable Trust (KY)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Secret Circle stands at Elite Thoroughbreds for $3,000 (2021).
Sale History
FTKOCT2018 • ($47,000 RNA) • Consignor: Paul Tackett, agent.
Moira, b, 2/f
Ghostzapper — Devine Aida, by Unbridled's Song
Owner: X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC
Breeder: Adena Springs (ON)
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Jockey: Justin Stein
Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Ghostzapper stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farms for $75,000 (2022).
Sale History
KEESEP2020 • $150,000 • Consignor: Hidden Brook, agent • Buyer: X-Men Racing.
The Hendrie was also the first stakes triumph for the multiple graded stakes-placed chestnut and provided her sire, Secret Service, with his first black-type stakes winner. Secret Circle stands at Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana for $3,000
Our Secret Agent tracked leader Toffen through an opening quarter of :22.98, while Fiduciary and Amalfi Coast also kept close watch on the pacesetter.
At the half-mile mark, reached in :45.99, Toffen held a head advantage over Our Secret Agent. By the time the field of six straightened for home, Our Secret Agent was in full flight, as multiple stakes winner Amalfi Coast came calling to her outside.
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Midway down the lane, the race for the top spot was over, with Our Secret Agent going on to notch an easy 3 1/2-length win in a time of 1:15.68 over the Tapeta. Amalfi Coast dug in gamely and held second, a head in front of La Libertee .
"Today, it seemed like there were not too many closers, just the one (Amalfi Coast) from Kevin (trainer, Attard)," said Kimura. "That's why I just stayed with him, and it was as easy win. It was a great race. I just wanted to sit second and just try and stay steady. That was pretty comfortable for her. When I came from the corner, she exploded and that was an easy win."
Our Secret Agent ($4.50), who came into the race off a fifth-place performance in the Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T), added blinkers to her equipment Saturday and pushed her record to 3-6-4 from 14 starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Our Secret Agent went unsold in her one appearance at public auction, falling short of her reserve from Tackett's consignment at The October Sale at Fasig-Tipton in 2018 when bidding stalled at $47,000.
She is the second graded stakes winner from 11 foals produced from her dam, the stakes-placed Holy Bull mare Avalos . Her other graded winner, Hotshot Anna (Trappe Shot ), also excelled in sprints on synthetic tracks, winning the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) twice, among other stakes.
Video: Hendrie S. (G3)
Flashy Debut From Moira
Later on the Saturday card at Woodbine, Moira made her debut a memorable one, as the daughter of Ghostzapper dominated the 76th edition of the CA$250,800 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-foaled 2-year-old fillies.
Trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Justin Stein, Moira ran like a seasoned pro despite her lack of racing experience, rallying powerfully to take command in the stretch and draw away. She rolled by 4 1/4 lengths, timed in 1:44.63 for the 1 1/16-mile distance on Tapeta. Souper Flashy bested 25-1 Intro for the runner-up prize, while Baksheesh , the 5-2 choice, was fourth.
Sent off as the 4-1 second choice, Moira paid $10.60 for the win.
Owned by X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, the Ontario-bred received high praise from both her pilot and conditioner.
"She handled everything down the backstretch really well," offered Stein. "She was on the inside and was right there for me like a seasoned runner. I moved her around to where we wanted to be and I just waited for that seam at the head of the lane to open up. I had so much horse."
Attard saw his two trainees in the race finish 1-2, and was pleased with both of their performances, naturally highlighted by the winner.
"She showed a lot of talent and I've really liked her for a long time," he said of Moira. "I was confident that she was good enough, I was just hoping my abilities were good enough, I guess.
While next year's Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser is a long way down the road, Stein couldn't help but give the country's pre-eminent race for Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies a quick thought past the wire.
"That's what I thought galloping out," said the trainer.
Among the past Princess Elizabeth winners who have gone on to take the Woodbine Oaks are Nipissing (2012), Roan Inish (2009), Ginger Gold (2001), and Dancethruthedawn (2000).
Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Moira was a $150,000 purchase by X-Men Racing at the 2020 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland from the Hidden Brook consignment.
Following Jungle Cry (Animal Kingdom ), she is the second stakes winner from foal foals out of the stakes-winning Unbridled’s Song mare Devine Aida . Jungle Cry won the Robert Dupret Derby at Golden Gate Fields earlier this year.
The dam has a yearling full brother to Moira and foaled a Point of Entry filly this year.
Video: Princess Elizabeth S. (BT)
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