NEW ORLEANS, LA – Secret Message rewarded her new connections’ faith with a rallying score in Saturday’s $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Secret Message broke from post 3 under Shaun Bridgmohan as the 2/1 second choice and settled in next-to-last of the eight-horse field while Jeanie B led narrowly over the 7/5 favorite Dalika.
Swung out near the 1/4 pole to run widest of all in the stretch run, Secret Message gobbled up ground and took over inside the final furlong.
The Brad Cox trainee drew off late to cross 1 1/4 lengths the best, completing the 1 1/16-mile firm turf route in 1:42.66.
Room to Finish, the only runner further behind the winner early, similarly rallied to take second by a length over Jeanie B.
Xanthique, Dalika, Loving Moment, Curlin’s Journey, and Kuora completed the order of finish.
Joy Epifora was scratched.
Secret Message’s win came in her debut for Spendthrift Farm, who purchased her for $625,000 last November but kept her in training and sent her to Cox, who saddled her to finish third in the local Blushing K. D. Stakes. The 6-year-old Hat Trick mare improved her record to 21-7-2-3 with $564,413 earned lifetime.
Secret Message returned $6.80 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.40 to show. Room to Finish brought back $7 to place and $3.40 to show, while Jeanie B paid $3.20 to show.
