Going straight to the front at the outset under Flavien Prat and setting all the fractions, Sierra Racing and Sterling Stables LLC's Raymundos Secret reached the wire just in time to hold off a fast-finishing Lady Prancealot and Umberto Rispoli to win Saturday's Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif., by a nose.
Catch the Eye was third and Zee Drop fourth in the field of eight fillies and mares going nine furlongs on turf. Raymundos Secret was timed in 1:48.60 on firm turf after fractions of :24.87, :48.60, 1:12.52 and 1:36.16 were posted.
Raymundos Secret was favored at 7-5 with Lady Prancealot the 8-5 second choice.
The victory was Prat's fourth of the afternoon, giving him 46 for the summer session in 25 days of racing. Rispoli, who was blanked on Saturday, has 45.
“The plan wasn't necessarily to go to the front; just to break her out of there and see what happens,” said Prat. “She broke super sharp and we were on the lead. From there I just tried to get her to relax and to slow it down as best as I could. Then when we went for home, she gave me a good kick. She just had enough at the end.”
The Mabee was Prat's 13th stakes success of the meet, equaling the record number set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012.
“It's a good accomplishment. I'm glad for it. I'm hoping I've got one or two more before we're done here, too.”
Trained by Phil D'Amato, Raymundos Secret earned her first black-type win in the Mabee and fifth win overall in seven starts. Bred in Florida by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson and Joseph Barbazon, Raymundos Secret was produced from the Greatness mare, Paulette Caveat.
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