Carlo d’Amato and Stacey Van Camp’s SECRET RESERVE, trained by Mike Mattine, benefitted from a sharp ride by Leo Salles to win the $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes at Woodbine on Dec. 10, the final stakes race of the season. The 1 1/16 mile race on Tapeta for Ontario-sired three-year-olds and up had a rash of scratches including favoured Artie’s Storm and thus a field of eight went postward with Cruden Bay, in his first stakes start, made the tepid favourite at 2-to-1.
It was longshot Dun Drum who went to the lead and set a solid pace while Secret Reserve tracked in second in his first route race attempt since 2021 when he was sixth in the Steady Growth Stakes. Jockey Salles kept the five-year-old by Giant Gizmo – Smart Suzie by Smart Strike close to the rail and waited to make his move turning into the stretch. By then, the tough gelding Ron’s Gizmo had swooped the field on his way to a brief lead but he did not hold it as Secret Reserve angled out for the win, holding longshot Grandson safe by half a length. The time was :43.91 for an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s a nice, honest horse and this year we had a lot of tough results,” said Mattine. “But he finally came through today. The inside was really good the last week or so and he had a good post. He stayed on the rail and saved ground.”