 Secretariat Stakes winner Ciro receives his flower blanket |
Dateline: 08/19/00
Eight three-year-old colts met up in the 1 1/4 mile Secretariat Stakes, to close out Arlington's International Festival of Racing. Jerry Bailey had already won the first two Grade 1 features on the card, and he had 0.60-1 odds-on favourite King Cugat in the finale.
Canadian invader Think Red from Sam-Son Farm was out of the gate and to the front early, setting the initial quarter in 23.93 before settling in second behind Pine Dance. The American Derby winner continued in 47.86, 1:12.13, and 1:37.31 before he gave way to King Cugat who collared him at the top of the stretch.
However, that lead would be short-lived. 4.80-1 second choice Ciro came on strong in deep stretch as jockey Mick Kinane denied Bailey the Festival hat trick, beating him by a length. The French invader Guillamou City got up for third place at odds of 34.10-1. The final time was 2:01.64, just a tick slower than the Million.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 8 Ciro Kinane 11.60 3.40 2.10 2 King Cugat Bailey 2.40 2.10 4 Guillamou City Nakatani 2.20 Winning Time: 2:01.37 $2 Exacta 8-2 28.40 $2 Quinella 2-8 9.20 $2 Trifecta 8-2-4 297.00 $2 Superfecta 8-2-4-7 1,887.00
Think Red and Pine Dance neck and neck on the lead with Ciro and Slew Valley just behind as they pass the stands for the first time.
Ciro winning by a length over King Cugat. Jockey Mick Kinane said: "He took awhile to get going. They
went at a good gallop and as soon as the pace slackened up a little bit, I
was able to work my way home well."
Ciro in the winner's circle. Assistant Trainer Pat Keating said: "The pace was very good. Mick
was happy and he tucked him in and picked it up nicely."
Ciro in the paddock. He is a very striking colt with a lot of white spots on him, almost like an Apaloosa. He even had a beard as you can see in this photo.
Ciro in the post parade looking like a winner already.
King Cugat in the post parade. Trainer Bill Mott said: "Naturally, anything less than a victory
is always disappointing. He's run better in the past. He made that move
to get to the lead but he had to work a little harder to get there. The
fractions didn't concern me."
Corey Nakatani getting a leg up on third place finisher Guillamou City. He said: "They told me that he's a real
stayer, and when he made the lead he didn't really quicken. When he
learns to do that he'll be a real top-notch horse. He ran just a little
green. When he learns to quicken just a little bit he'll be heard from."
Photos by Cindy Pierson and Terence Dulay
