Secret File No Surprise in Churchill Feature

The Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis Trust’s Secret File battled with Street Storm and Heavenly Landing down the stretch before overcoming those rivals inside the eighth-pole to take the $63,038 Thursday afternoon feature at Churchill Downs by a widening 1 ¼ lengths.

Secret File was well-held in last in the field of five through opening fractions of :24.49 and :49.07 set by Lally Stable’s Heavenly Landing. The 4-year-old daughter of Smart Strike began to move at the leaders at the three-eighths pole, drew even with Street Storm and Heavenly Landing in the stretch and finally wore down her foes with less than a furlong remaining. Trained by Charlie Lopresti and ridden by Jon Court, Secret File covered the 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track at Churchill Downs in 1:45.47.

Breaking from the gate as the 2-1 favorite, Secret File retuned mutuels of $6.60, $3.80 and $3. Right Time Racing LLC’s Street Storm, who was eighth in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks in her most recent start, finished second to return $3.40 and $3.20, with Heavenly Landing in third returning $3.20.

The victory, which was worth $39,060, was Secret File’s second win of the Spring Meet and increased her bankroll to $98,126 with a record of 3-1-3 from eight lifetime starts. 

Racing continues Friday with the return of the Downs After Dark nighttime racing program. Admission gates will open at 4 p.m. EDT and the first of 11 live races will begin at 6 p.m.