Secret Circle looms large in Midnight Lute Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – If only he had a fashionable pedigree, Secret Circle might be retired to stud by now. But demand for modestly bred stallions is minimal, and so Secret Circle will earn his keep on the track.

Secret Circle, by Eddington, is not done yet. He is favored Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 3, $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes, race 5, named for Baffert’s two-time BC Sprint winner. The guys who owned Midnight Lute – Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman – also own Secret Circle

Seven horses entered the 6 1/2-furlong Midnight Lute, previously run at Hollywood Park as the Vernon Underwood. Rivals for Secret Circle include the stakes winner Seeking the Sherif, surface-switch upset candidates Bolita Boyz and Bahamian Squall, and likely pacesetter Distinctiv Passion. Heir of Storm and Appealing Tale also entered.

The horse to beat is obvious. Secret Circle, the runner-up this fall in the BC Sprint and Cigar Mile, is the class of the field with an admirable record of consistency.

“He shows up every time,” Baffert said. “Look at his form – he runs first or second every time.” The only race in which Secret Circle finished worse than second was a third in his October comeback.

KEY CONTENDERS

Secret Circle (Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures: 100-104-100)

After winning seven of his first nine starts, Secret Circle has lost four straight, albeit against top company. A runner-up in February in a Grade 2 race, he finished in the money in his next three starts against Grade 1 foes. Secret Circle has sufficient speed to be forwardly placed under jockey Martin Garcia, who rode him to victory in the 2013 BC Sprint.

Seeking the Sherif (Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures: 84-93-89)

In nine starts since being claimed for just $12,500 by trainer Ron Ellis, Seeking the Sherif has won five races and $222,700, including a minor stakes at Los Alamitos. Edwin Maldonado is the regular rider for Seeking the Sherif, who will start for the first time since Nov. 1, when he finished 11th in the BC Sprint. The gelding’s style should lead to a good trip behind likely pacesetter Distinctiv Passion.

Bolita Boyz (Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures: 85-65-79)

The only 3-year-old in the field, Bolita Boyz is making his second start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer after a fifth-place finish on turf. “He’s a dirt horse,” assistant trainer Dan Ward said. “We ran him on turf because it was straight 3-year-olds.” Bolita Boyz posted a bullet six-furlong workout at Santa Anita on Dec. 19 and will be ridden again by Rafael Bejarano.

Distinctiv Passion (Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures: 101-89-84)

Trainer Jeff Bonde seeks his third straight victory in this renamed stakes. He won the Vernon Underwood last year with Majestic Stride and in 2012 with Smiling Tiger. Mike Smith will ride Distinctiv Passion, who is expected to set the pace.