Hierro prepares himself for the first test of his sophomore season in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita
The Steven Asmussen trained 3-year-old colt, Hierro, will kick off his sophomore season by participating in the Grade 3 $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on 7 January, 2012, over a distance of 1 mile on dirt. The grade 3 event has reeled in a bulky field of 10 newly turned sophomore colts and geldings.
The Stonestreet Stables owned 3-year-old colt, Hierro, is the highly regarded son of Hard Spun, out of mare Brief Bliss by Navarone.
He broke his maiden at third asking at Churchill Downs on 9 November, 2011, going over a distance of six and a half furlongs.
His first attempt at breaking his maiden was at Saratoga on 3 September, 2011, but got beaten by Alpha and finished fifth under jockey Ramon Dominguez over a distance of seven furlongs.
He came close to breaking it at second asking, when he finished second to Souper Speedy at Belmont Park on 1 October, 2011, who finished the seven furlong distance in 1 minute and 23.87 seconds as Love to Run finished third.
Hierro, ahead of the Sham Stakes, turned in a four furlong drill at Santa Anita Park’s fast main track on 1 January, 2012, and covered the distance in 47.60 seconds, for trainer Steven Asmussen.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes has reeled in the Bob Baffert trained newly turned 3-year-old colt, Secret Circle, who is coming off a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint.
Some high profile 2-year-olds who have just turned 3 will be looking at that race as the first most important race of their sophomore careers, because the Sham Stakes is a stepping stone to the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby to be held at Santa Anita on 7 April, 2012.
The Kentucky bred son of Eddington, out of mare Ragtime Hope by Dixieland Band, Secret Circle has gone through his juvenile season unbeaten in three starts.
Breaking his maiden at Del Mar at first asking, Secret Circle showed potential to stardom, and then back to back win in the Jack Goodman Stakes at about six furlongs readied him for the Breeders’ Cup, but when he aced the big race at first attempt, he catapulted himself to stardom automatically.
Big things are expected of Secret Circle, only time will tell if he can live up to these high expectations.
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