Chelsea Durand Photo

Secretary At War bests Frostmourne in Woodhaven; Bluegrass Flag wins second straight in Park Avenue

by Brian Bohl and Najja Thompson

Making his stakes debut and first start in New York, Allen Stable's Secretary At War quickly went to the lead and held off a late charge from Frostmourne to capture the $100,000 Woodhaven for 3-year-olds on the turf Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Breaking alertly from post 4 as the 9-5 second-choice with Junior Alvarado aboard, Secretary At War went to the lead from the field of five as post-time favorite Frostmourne stalked from second position. 

Setting fractions of 24.04 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, with a half going in 48.50, Secretary At War continued uncontested on the lead to the quarter-pole, when Frostmourne was set down in a drive. In the upper stretch, the two rivals dug in gamely, battling toward the finish with Secretary at War prevailing by a half-length.

The 1 1/16-mile race was completed in 1:41.37.

"I knew I had plenty of horse left, but I didn't know how much horse Irad [Ortiz, Jr.,aboard Forstmourne] had left," Alvardo said. "I couldn't get away with what I really wanted to. But down from the quarter pole to the wire, I got a better horse this time. When I turned for home, he gave me all he could. He fought back."

A son of War Front, the Jimmy Jerkens-trainee returned $5.60 for a $2 win wager making his fourth career start after breaking his maiden. He boosted his career earnings to $250,000.

"Our horse might have been a little sharper, being it was the other guy's [Frostmourne, No. 5] first race of the year," said Jerkens. "With the blinkers on I don't think he saw him at first, but when he did he took off again so that was good. We may run him at further distances. He ran a little short in his first two races but Joe [Allen, owner] told me the mare's whole family had no distance limitations. It was all more all about putting his act together."

Following Frostmoune in second was Bird's Eye View. Shamsaan and Royal by Nature rounded out the finish.

In Race 8, Bluegrass Flag won for the third time in four starts, going gate-to-wire to capture the $100,000 Park Avenue for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies on the main track.

The daughter of Bluegrass Cat surged to the front, covering the opening quarter-mile in 22.71 seconds and the half in 45.48 with post-time favorite Noble Freud in close pursuit.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche piloted Bluegrass Flag three-wide on the turn before a strong final kick in the stretch to pull away by six lengths, completing 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.67. It was the second straight stakes win for the Tom Morley trainee, who also was victorious in the Cicada at six furlongs.

"My filly ran a gorgeous race today," Carmouche said. "What a good job by Thomas Morley and his team.  All I had to do was sit on her and get her around and make her look good. We know we can run. We wanted to make Chad Brown's horse [Noble Freud] run. Today, that's what happened. My filly finished up really good. I was really pleased with her."

Bluegrass Flag paid $9.70 on a $2 win wager, improving to 3-1-0 in five career starts with career earnings of $173,220.

"I thought Kendrick gave her a terrific ride," Morley said by phone. "We do think the further she goes the more she'll enjoy the added distance and I told the owners one day perhaps I envision she could possibly be another [Grade 1] Ballerina horse, but we're going to take it nice and steady and let her tell us where she wants to take us. She's been performing well and as of now we'll point her to the seven-eighths race at Belmont [Bouwerie, May 29].

Noble Freud took second in her stakes debut for trainer Chad Brown. Frosty Gal, making her first stakes start for trainer Barclay Tagg, rallied for third.

Toni Tools, Dublin Girl, Unbridleadventure and Karen Kan completed the order of finish.

Sunday will cap the spring meet at Aqueduct with mandatory Pick 6 and Pick 5 pool payouts. With the Pick 6 eluding bettors on Saturday, the carryover will be $23,436.72. First post for the nine-race card is set for 1:20 p.m. with the Pick 6 starting with Race 4 at 3:05 p.m.