With the CTHS Ontario yearling sale only 18 days away, the graded stakes victory by SECRET RESERVE at Woodbine on August 13 was quite an advertisement. Trainer Mike Mattine and owners Stacey Van Vamp and Carlo d’Amato picked out the son of Giant Gizmo – Smart Suzie by Smart Strike from the 2019 sale for just $9,000 and Saturday, the 4-year-old won his first graded stakes race and third stakes race overall. Ridden by Eswan Flores, the dark bay threaded between horses late to win the $181,100 Bold Venture Stakes (G3) over a tough group of sprinters.
Sent off at 10-to-1 in the 13 horse field, Secret Reserve began from the rail post and settled well in the middle of a strung-out field over a Tapeta surface that had been playing slowly all week. With 3-year-old (and favourite) Nobals, winner of the Woodstock Stakes in May, streaking along and Roaring Forties pressing him, the pace was strong.
Flores, who joined the Woodbine jockey colony a year ago, sent Secret Reserve after four tiring rivals in front off the turn and in the three path while closers from well off the pace made wide bids. But Flores had the jump on the stretch runners and when champion Avie’s Flatter (Flatter) loomed up strongly in mid-stretch, Secret Reserve had enough to fend him off to win by half a length.
