Raymundos Secret Holds On in John C. Mabee
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Raymundos Secret wins the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar
Sierra Racing and Sterling Stables' Raymundos Secret set a steady pace in the $151,500 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 5 at Del Mar and held off a late charge from Lady Prancealot to earn her first stakes score.
The 4-year-old Treasure Beach filly was ridden by Flavien Prat as she set fractions of :24.87 and :48.60 through the first half-mile of the 1 1/8-mile turf event for fillies and mares. She went along with a comfortable two-length lead. Her main rival, grade 1 winner Lady Prancealot, was sixth of eight early.
The field moved a half-length closer to Raymundos Secret as she ran three-quarters in 1:12.52. Lady Prancealot was still in sixth and angled three wide by jockey Umberto Rispoli but had nearly four lengths to make up. Able to take her time throughout the race, Raymundos Secret had a second wind in the stretch and used it to repel Lady Prancealot as the rival closed the gap approaching the finish line.
Raymundos Secret held on by a neck, completing the nine furlongs on firm turf in 1:48.60.
"The plan wasn't necessarily to go to the front—just to break her out of there and see what happens," Prat said. "She broke super sharp and we were on the lead. From there I just tried to get her to relax and to slow it down as best as I could. Then when we went for home, she gave me a good kick. She just had enough at the end."
The John C. Mabee was Prat's fourth win Saturday. He tied Del Mar's jockey record of 13 stakes wins in a season.
"It's a good accomplishment. I'm glad for it," he said. "I'm hoping I've got one or two more before we're done here, too."
A length behind Lady Prancealot, Catch the Eye rallied for third and Zee Drop was fourth.
Raymundos Secret was bred in Florida by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Joseph Barbazon, and Helen Barbazon. She is the second foal and winner out of the Greatness mare Paulette Caveat, whose 2-year-old daughter Southern Lass (Poseidon's Warrior) is placed in one start this year.
Hemingway Racing and Training Stables, agent, purchased Raymundos Secret for $7,000 from the consignment of Pleasant Acres Farm at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings Sale. She made her first start in January 2019 in maiden claiming at Tampa Bay Downs for JC Thoroughbreds and Joseph Barbazon and won by six lengths. Sierra Racing and Sterling Stables have campaigned her since her second start, and the John C. Mabee was her second race for trainer Phil D'Amato.
Raymundos Secret owns five wins in seven starts and has earned $188,971.