Jan. 29, 2007 — Sunday afternoon at the Randall "Doc" James racetrack, Carson Secrets destroyed a four-horse field on his way to a relatively easy six-length victory in the feature race, leading his owner to call for a rematch against Kentucky Kris.
The victory in the seventh race served notice to all that he is still one of the best thoroughbreds in the Virgin Islands and definitely a force to be reckoned with. Carson Secrets had a somewhat embarrassing performance in his last race, the deJongh Thank You Special last November, finishing sixth to eventual winner Kentucky Kris. On Sunday, however, he exploded out of the gates and never got headed on his way to a wire-to-wire job.
“Extension-cup blinkers was the big difference today,” said owner-trainer Stanley Acoy. "Last race day he bolted, so I used this blinker that limited his vision to the right but allowed him to see straight ahead clearly. Also, jockey Kevin Krigger told me that the jockey that rode him last time out held the reigns too loosely. He said the jockey needed to hold them just tight enough for the horse to feel them."
Krigger guided Acoy’s dark-brown gelding to a not-too-shabby time of 1:33.2 over the 7 1/2-furlong distance to take home the lion’s share of the $4200 purse. Broken Fuse, with jockey Alberto Ojeda in the irons, nipped Zerocs and jockey Kerwin John for second. Danzig Mon finished further back in fourth.
"He was really ready today," Acoy said. "You see that they kept away Gallego and El Chuso (two horses scratched from the race). And, by the way — make sure you put this in the news: I want a rematch with Kentucky Kris.”
Carson Secrets' only challenge came midway down the backstretch when, after leading by about three lengths to that point, the rest of the field began to creep up on him, led by Zerocs. They were no more than a length back at the three-eight pole, but then he kicked it into high gear around the far turn.
By the time they hit the top of the stretch, he was again in front by three lengths and drawing away with every stride. At that point it was more than obvious that the race was now solely for the place position.
“When they pulled up on him, I just said to him, ‘Come on Secrets, let's go,’ and he took off again,” Krigger said. “I did not have to do much after that."
The 7 1/2-furlongs sixth race for a purse of $3600 was another highly contested race between Barchetta, ridden by Krigger, and Cat Hunter with Ojeda. Barchetta sat just off the pace, allowing Cat Hunter to set the early fractions. But at the far turn, Barchetta — the old man of V.I. racing at 12 years old — made his move. He slowly reeled in Cat Hunter, drawing even after they turned for home.
The two then battled down the stretch, but Barchetta had the momentum and he soon gained the advantage, drawing away ever so slowly to a 3/4 of a length victory at the wire. The Benny Blanco-trained Barchetta covered the distance in a time of 1:35.3.
Asked how he keeps the aging gelding going so well, Blanco said, “I just try to keep him happy. I do light work, galloping him with the pony, a lot of swimming, long walks — just keep him happy.”
His strategy for the race?
“I done tell myself this morning that this was a walk in the park for him today, piece of cake," Blanco said. "I just knew we had this in the bag. He is back!”
The field got whittled down to three after three other intended starters were scratched from the race. Brave Byars, coming off a long layoff, also competed but never proved a threat to the other two runners.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race 1 Class H 5 F Jockey $1500
Time: 1:05.1
1st Secret Weapon — Alphonso Claudio
2nd C-Biscuite — Jesus Guadelupe
3rd Elegant Eve — Miguel Sanchez
Race 2 Class F(2) 6 F Jockey $3100
Time: 1:17
1st Quelbe Queen — Elmo Barnes
2nd Fightforyourrights — Miguel Sanchez
3rd Queen Mary — Juan Oyola
Race 3 Class E 6 F Jockey $3300
Time: 1:15.1
1st Tulsa Boy — Kevin Krigger
2nd Top Ranking — Juan Oyola
3rd In the Quick — Miguel Sanchez
Race 4 Open Mares & Fillies Jockey $4200
7 1/2 F Time: 1:36.1
1st Caribbean Colony — Kerwin John
2nd Scat’s Mine — Juan Oyola
3rd Trick Hunter — Kevin Krigger
Race 5 Classes D&E 7 F Jockey $3400
Time: 1:28.4
1st Prayerful — Marlon Edwin
2nd Sarazen’s Blade — Kevin Krigger
3rd Personal Hearing — Alberto Ojeda
Race 8 Class F(1) 7 F Jockey $3200
Time: 1:29.4
1st Tia Tata — Juan Oyola
2nd Another Wanda — Elmo Barnes
3rd Demarshe — Kevin Krigger
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