1st-Keeneland, $60,000, Msw, 4-7, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :54.05, sy.
SECRETLY WICKED (f, 2, Wicked Strong–Secret Congrats, by Congrats) provided her first-crop sire (by Hard Spun) with an early first winner Sunday in the Keeneland slop. The chestnut had done much of her early work at Riverside Downs, and shipped into Keeneland to breeze a half-mile from the gate Apr. 2 in :47 2/5. Off at 4-1 with a late jockey switch to hot-handed Paco Lopez after named rider Jose Ortiz's flight into Lexington was delayed, she showed good early speed to press Competitive Queen (Competitive Edge). That pair was joined by odds-on Wesley Ward newcomer Palace Duchess (Palace) in upper stretch, and despite Secretly Wicked looking like the third-likeliest winner at that point, she dug in gamely while struggling with her lead changes to prevail by 3/4 of a length over Competitive Queen. Palace Duchess flattened out to be third. The winner's unraced dam produced a Strong Mandate colt in 2018 and a colt by Competitive Edge Mar. 10. Wicked Strong, the 2014 GI Wood Memorial winner and Spendthrift Farm resident, has been reasonably well received at the 2-year-old sales so far this year, and had a $425,000 filly sell at OBS March. Sales history: $1,300 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/T-Jack L. Hancock; B-Nancy C. Shuford (KY).
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