Cyber Secret Sets Turfway Mark in Stakes Win

Multiple graded winner Cyber Secret lived up to his favored billing in the Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park Dec. 21, setting a track record for 1 1/16 miles of 1:42.26 on the Polytrack en route to a 4 1/2-length victory . 



The previous mark of 1:42.52 was set by Miss Wellspring in 2006.



Cyber Secret won off as much the best at 2-1 odds with Israel Ocampo aboard, in spite of losing his left front shoe. Charles Cella's 4-year-old son of Broken Vow   was making his second start off a six-month layoff for trainer Lynn Whiting in the $50,000 event.



The bay colt had had only one previous start on an all-weather surface and was unplaced then, but Whiting was confident he could handle the assignment.



"I brought him up here and breezed him on Monday, and he went 47 and change," Whiting said. "Horses from his sire seem to do well on Polytrack."



Cyber Secret was well-placed in fifth for the opening half mile before angling into the three path in the far turn and soon getting the lead. Leading by a half-length in the lane, Cyber Secret opened up in the final furlong to win going away under a steady drive from Ocampo.



Pacesetter Stormy Going, who led by as many as three lengths early, finished second after posting quick quarter mile fractions of :23.78, :47.01, and 1:11.01. Stormy Going, ridden by Perry Ouzts, stayed close until mid-stretch and was 2 3/4 lengths better than stalking Occasional View and Victor Lebron in third.



"The race set up perfect for me," said Ocampo. "I had a perfect position, and when I turned for home I had plenty of horse left. I knew I could put him anywhere I wanted. He handled the Polytrack really good. I worked him when he was a 2-year-old and he was pretty green. He's getting more mature, relaxing more.



"I also worked him before he won the Oaklawn Handicap (in April), and he's even better today than he was then," Ocampo added.



Second choice Villandry was fourth, followed by Burn the Mortgage, Unstoppable U, Dreams Cut Short, Magical Moment, Pass the Crown, Present Course, Knights Nation, and Polaris.



Cyber Secret, bred in Kentucky by Paragon Farms out of the Dixieland Band mare Stomping, paid $6.60, $4.20, and $3.20. He now has seven wins and two seconds in 17 starts for earnings of $594,593.



Whiting said the Prairie Bayou was intended to set Cyber Secret up for his next start, the Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park Jan. 11.