Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Enrique Gomez rode Lesters Secret to a one-length victory in the $50,000 Sierra Blanca Handicap for New Mexico-breds on the Fourth of July at Ruidoso Downs.
Racing for Simply The Best Thoroughbreds of Temecula, California, and trainer Henry Dominguez, Lesters Secret went 5 ½ furlongs in 1:06.03 while earning his eighth win in 25 starts and third stakes victory. The 5-year-old gelding by Lesters Boy was sent to post as the 5-2 second choice in the field of seven and returned a $7.60 win mutuel.
Lesters Secret was bred by Dominguez, and the gelding is one of three stakes winners from 38 starters sired by Lesters Boy. A 16-year-old son of the Relaunch stallion Cee's Tizzy who won the 2002 Camino Real Mile Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque, Lesters Boy also ran second in the $100,000 Pomona Derby during the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Fairplex Park in '99.
Lesters Boy has sired 24 winners and the earners of more than $1.6 million. The stallion is owned by Dr. Miguel Gallegos and stands for a $3,000 fee at Gallegos Del Norte Farm in Albuquerque.
Lesters Secret's dam, Beauty Secret, is an unraced 11-year-old daughter of the Mr. Prospector stallion Souvenir Copy. The gelding's third dam, the Kentucky-bred Riva Ridge mare Fantastic Girl, won the 1979 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar.
The $30,000 winner's share of the Sierra Blanca Handicap purse pushed Lesters Secret's bankroll to $431,103. The gelding has won both of his starts this year, including a 7-furlong allowance-optional claiming race at SunRay Park on June 7.
Lesters Secret's stakes resume includes victories in last year's 1-mile, $125,000 New Mexico State University Handicap (R) at Sunland Park, and the 6-furlong, $140,000 New Mexico Cup Colts & Geldings Stakes (R) at Zia Park in 2009.
Chuchuluco, the 11-10 favorite, ran second and was followed by Comic Smarty Cat, Eightnchangegroom, Romeos Wilson, Rig's Runner, and Bonndaddy's.
Chuchuluco has earned $342,584 for his owners, the West Texas Racing Partners, who acquired the 4-year-old Devon Lane gelding for $58,000 at the 2008 New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale at Ruidoso Downs. Chuchuluco has won six of 14 races, including three stakes, and his record includes a victory in the 6 1/2-furlong, $120,000 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap (R) at Sunland Park on December 12.
Comic Smarty Cat finished 2 ½ lengths behind Lesters Secret, after the 4-year-old Comic Genius gelding set fractions of :23.31 and :46.37. Comic Smarty Cat races for Pesikan and Kilgroe Stables, who claimed him from breeder Helen Nave for $10,000 at Sunland Park in March. All told, the gelding has earned $65,232 from four wins in 14 outs.