Dettori replaces Hernandez on favorite in Secretariat Stakes
Frankie Dettori was named by trainer Cherie DeVaux to replace Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard Brilliant Berti, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Sunday at Colonial Downs.
Hernandez decided to honor his mounts at Ellis Park on Sunday rather than travel to ride during the Arlington Million card, which was pushed back from Saturday because of stormy weather during the week. John Velázquez will replace Hernandez on Medalla Match in the $150,000 Andy Guest Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.
In just four races, Brilliant Berti has racked up three wins, including last out in the American Derby going 1 1/16 miles June 29 at Churchill Downs.
“He’s definitely a horse that continues to improve with racing and maturity,” DeVaux said Friday. “Most of my horses need a race, but after he (debuted) at Fair Grounds, Brian was thoroughly impressed with him. When he broke his maiden and in his next start, he broke a little belatedly and then ran himself into a tough spot, but he didn’t do it in his last start, so that was another sign of improvement. It’s refreshing when they continue to improve in both aspects.”
With his allowance score coming at the Secretariat distance of one mile, the Noble Mission colt owned by Klein Racing has demonstrated tactical versatility and a dazzling turn of foot.
“He shows that he probably has it within him to go farther,” DeVaux said. “We just have to make sure. He has such a turn of foot, but that doesn’t always translate to the longer distances, say a mile-and-a-quarter. We’ll just keep developing him and see where his top is.”
Along with the mount in the Secretariat, Dettori will pilot Neecie Marie for trainer Butch Reid in the $500,000 Beverly D. (G2), which he won in 2004 aboard Godolphin’s Crimson Palace. Dettori was booked to ride Milam Racing Stable’s 4-year-old filly before this week’s postponement.
With Northern Invader, DeVaux sent out the post-time favorite in 2023 Secretariat who finished fifth after encountering early trouble.
The winner of eight races including the 2023 Ricks Memorial Stakes, Medalla Match was transferred by Chaps Racing Stables from Mike Biehler to DeVaux to start the mare’s 6-year-old campaign.
In the first start with her new conditioner, she finished fourth in the Unbridled Song (G3) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs.
“She’s been a really fun filly since she’s come in,” DeVaux said. “The idea is to try and get graded stakes on her, because she already has overnight stakes under her belt. She has it within her wheelhouse. Overmatched at Saratoga, the turf was quite firm, but this seems like a spot she is better suited for in terms of numbers.”
Along with a steady series of morning drills at Keeneland since her eighth-place finish in the Intercontinental (G2) on June 7 at Saratoga, the Summer Front mare breezed at Colonial in company with Its Satisfactual on Saturday, going four furlongs in 48.6 seconds.