Secret Circle handed Bob Baffert his third consecutive win in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Trainer Bob Baffert is flying high and sweeping whatever there is to grab in the three-year-old division with his super colts, and one who stands out of his massive three-year-old string this year round is the impressive, Secret Circle, who handed Baffert
his third consecutive Grade 2 Rebel Stakes by defeating Optimizer in second.
Michael E. Pegram owned 3-year-old colt, Secret Circle, won the $500,000 event on 17 March, 2012, at Oaklawn Park over the venue’s dirt course against 12 other 3-year-old colts.
Bob Baffert saddled Lookin at Lucky, when he won the 2010 edition of the Rebel Stakes, and last year the conditioner landed the race with The Factor, and this year Secret Circle is keeping trend alive, as Bob Baffert swept both divisions of the Grade 3 Southwest
Stakes on 20 February, 2012, with Castaway, and again Secret Circle.
In the Rebel Stakes, the Kentucky bred son of Eddington, out of mare Ragtime Hope by Dixieland Band, Secret Circle settled off the pace within striking distance along with Cyber Secret, as Scatman and Unbridled’s Note conjured up an eye catching duel to
set the pace.
They carved the opening fractions, as the downed the opening quarter mile in 23.43 seconds, half mile in 47.09 seconds and reached the six furlong marker in 1 minute and 11.62 seconds.
Scatman was looking to atone for his half length defeated he suffered by the hands of Secret Circle in the Southwest Stakes, looked ominous when he showed a little too much than Unbridled’s Note, and edged past him with Luis Quinonez aboard.
He opened up a considerable lead, but even then at the back of his eye he had Secret Circle, waiting for him to make his move, and a move Secret Circle made, even drifting out at the top of the stretch, Secret Circle yelled uncle to Scatman, and bolted past
him, but the 27 to 1 shot, Optimizer showed his strength as his belated but strong run took everyone by surprise and made things interesting.
Optimizer downed Scatman by 1 ½ lengths, as Jake Mo finished fourth, while Secret Circle topped the distance in 1 minute and 44.55 seconds on fast dirt.
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