Woopigsooie First Winner for Secret Circle

Woo Pig Stables' Woopigsooie became the first winner for Hill 'n' Dale Farms stallion Secret Circle  when he took an Aug. 14 maiden special weight over five furlongs on the turf at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

Trained by John Alexander Ortiz and ridden by Marcelino Pedroza, the 2-year-old colt broke on top and took command of the eight-horse field. His lead was challenged early by Archie Can't Sell, who edged Woopigsooie briefly at the at the three-eighths mark.

Urged forward by Pedroza, the colt got back up on the inside and drove home. He crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of :59.08 on turf rated firm.

Wednesday's race was the second attempt in maiden company for Woopigsooie, who was defeated by a neck in his July 20 debut at Indiana Grand.

Bred in Florida by Carolin Von Rosenberg DVM, Woopigsooie is the eighth foal out of the Tale of the Cat  mare Not Affiliated. The mare has a yearling colt by Rattlesnake Bridge and was bred to Adios Charlie this season.

Woopigsooie was purchased by Nevin for $30,000 from the consignment of Tom McCrocklin to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

A winner of over $3.6 million from 16 starts, Secret Circle picked up his first graded stakes win at 3 when he took the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. The Bob Baffert trainee followed that effort with another win in the Rebel Stakes (G2) before closing out his sophomore season with a second place finish to Bodemeister  in the Arkansas Derby (G1). The son of Eddington  was sidelined for 18 months following the effort to recuperate from a sesamoid injury.

Stronger than ever at 4, Secret Circle picked up his first grade 1 score in the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). He placed three more times in grade 1 company in the United States. Shipped to Meydan in 2015, the then 6-year-old closed out his career with another impressive victory in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1).

Secret Circle entered stud at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2016 where he has stood the past four seasons for a fee of $5,000.