Secret Card Looks Like the One to Beat

If trainer Jaime Gomez is right about Secret Card, the rest of the field in the $385,600 Kindergarten Futurity tonight at Los Alamitos is in serious trouble.

“I think she’ll run even better [in the Futurity],” Gomez said of the 2-year-old filly, who was the fastest qualifier for what so far is the richest race of the meet.

Owned by the Dutch Masters III partnership of Denny Boer and Dr. James Streelman, Secret Card won her Futurity trial heat by 1 1/4 lengths and covered the 300 yards in 15.33 seconds, making her the fastest qualifier by a full length.

“She’ll have to run better in order to win,” said Gomez, who won the Kindergarten previously with Corona Cartel in 1996. “She came back in very good shape [from her trial victory on May 6] and has looked very confident in the past couple of days.”

The only concern for Secret Card, who broke her maiden April 23 in the first start of her career, is the outside post in the field of 10. However, she has run straight in both of her victories under jockey Oscar Andrade, who will be riding for the first time in a major stakes.

Secret Card is part of a three-horse entry for Dutch Masters III and Gomez that has been established as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the 300-yard, Grade I race. Mandrel Memories and Chicks Blurr, geldings that complete the entry, both won their trial heats.

There are co-second choices at 3-1: the Laura Lukas-trained entry of Blue Grass Bounce, Bridlewood and Local Call, and Marmet, who is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Paul Jones.

Marmet, a gelded son of Pritzi Dash, was the second-fastest qualifier as he won by 1 1/2 lengths in 15.53 seconds. Eddie Garcia will again ride.

Lukas, who has an ownership interest in all three of her participants along with husband Wayne, saw Local Call win his trial by half a length, Bridlewood score by three-quarters of a length and the filly Blue Grass Bounce finish second to Secret Call.

“Local Call hasn’t made many mistakes and has been a natural runner right from the start,” said Lukas, whose husband won the Kindergarten with Easy Treasure in 1978. “All three got in to the finals on merit, so it wouldn’t surprise me if any of the three jumps out and wins.”

Completing the field for the Futurity, which will go as the 10th race on the card with post time scheduled for 10:15 p.m., are Copper Buff, who was third as the 3-2 favorite in the qualifying race won by Secret Card; Dashing Knud, who will be trying to give trainer Danny Cardoza and Vessels Stallion Farm consecutive victories in the race after they scored last year with Natovas Princess, and Wave Catcher, who is unbeaten in two starts for owner-breeder Ed Allred and trainer Kelly Lewis.

Whichever 2-year-old wins the Kindergarten will be eligible for a $1-million bonus. The Los Alamitos Bonanza will be paid if he a horse can sweep the Kindergarten, Ed Burke Futurity (July 28) and the Los Alamitos Million (Dec. 16).