Forbidden Secret Shows Stakes Caliber in 7-Length Romp
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Photo: Coady Photography
Forbidden Secret wins by seven lengths in race 7 Oct. 12 at Keeneland
Red Oak Stable's promising 2-year-old Forbidden Secret raised the bar on his potential when he won a 1 1/16-mile $109,550 allowance optional claimer Oct. 12 at Keeneland by seven lengths.
The son of Outwork out of the winning After Market daughter Market Buzz won his second consecutive race by opening lengths and stamped his ticket to a stakes race in his next start, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
"Today's performance certainly put him in a position to run back in a stakes. I'll talk with Rick Sacco (Red Oak racing manager) and we'll come up with a plan," said Pletcher. "In the meantime, the colt will stay in Kentucky until we put that plan together."
Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Sherry Lee Talowsky, Red Oak acquired the colt for $47,000 out of Mulholland Springs' consignment at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Forbidden Secret made his racing debut July 21 at Saratoga Race Course where he finished fifth on a muddy track. He made significant gains in his second start Aug. 18 at Saratoga when he was second by a half length.
In a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct Racetrack Sept. 18, Forbidden Secret put it all together and won gate to wire by 9 3/4 lengths.
At Keeneland, Forbidden Secret and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. went right back to the maiden win playbook. They grabbed the lead in a couple of strides and then stayed there through opening fractions of :23.54, :47.74, and 1:12.59. As they rounded the second turn into the stretch, he had a 7 1/2-length lead over his nine challengers. Ortiz coasted down the stretch and stopped the timer at 1:45.62. Don't Tell My Wife Stables' Confidence Game was second by a head over John Oxley's Traffic Master .
Forbidden Secret has now won or placed three times out of four starts and earned $123,458.
"He is a colt we have always liked," said Pletcher. "I have actually been surprised more that it took him until his third start to win."
Amelia Green, Pletcher's assistant and exercise rider at Keeneland, said Forbidden Secret is such a big rangy colt, he has always given the impression he would relish two turns.
"In the paddock, he was absolutely professional," she said. "When he matures and grows into his body, it is going to be very exciting to see what he'll do next year."
Forbidden Secret hails from a family whose runners improve with age. Market Buzz is out of the grade 3 winner Crafty Oak (Crafty Prospector) who raced from 2 to 5 and won the Sixty Sails Handicap (G3) at 5. Market Buzz also is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Giant Oak , who won his grade 1s at 4 and 5; Apple Martini , who won stakes at 3 and 4; and, Oak Brook , who won a stakes and placed in a grade 3 at 5. All of these stakes winners are by Giant's Causeway.
Market Buzz, who has produced four winners from five starters, delivered a colt by Caracaro this year and was bred back to Beau Liam .