Secret Message, Dalika face off again in Stall Memorial

If there’s a turf stakes for the gals at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, chances are Secret Message and Dalika are in it. They’ll renew their budding rivalry and meet for the third time at the meet when they start as two of the favorites in the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial at 1 1/16 miles over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course.

The Stall is one of six stakes on a 13-race card dubbed Louisiana Derby Day Preview, which is highlighted by the $400,000, Grade 2 Risen Star and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2). The Risen Star is by far the deepest and most competitive Kentucky Derby prep to date and will offer a total of 85 Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5). The Rachel Alexandra will be offered for 3-year-old fillies, with the same 85 qualifying points up for grabs for the Kentucky Oaks.

The Stall (race 9) is also part of the “All Stakes Late Pick Five” (races 9-13) with an estimated pool of $400,000, on a card that also includes an “All Stakes Late Pick Four” (races 10-13) with an estimated pool of $750,000.

Spendthrift Farm’s Secret Message (post 9 at 5-2 on Mike Diliberto’s morning line with Shaun Bridgmohan) turned the tables on Dalika last time in the Marie G. Krantz Memorial here on Jan. 16. Able to save ground before tipping out wide off the far turn, she powered clear late for trainer Brad Cox. The 6-year-old daughter of Hat Trick was a four-time stakes winner for trainer Graham Motion, including the Mint Julep (G3) at Churchill Downs last May, and was sent to Cox after being purchased for $625,000 Keeneland Association November Breeding Stock Sale 2020.

Secret Message, who is 6-for-20 lifetime, couldn’t reel in a loose Dalika when she was third to her in the local Blushing K.D. in December but got some pace help last time, as the latter was kept busy on the lead. The trip can make all the difference in winning and losing, and Cox is hoping for much the same in the Stall.

“She got a good trip and a good setup and that was key,” Cox said. “She was a little wide two back and she saved a tough more ground last time and got a little better set up, as they didn’t let anyway have their own way on the lead. Hopefully she gets the same Saturday.”

Bal Mar Equine’s Dalika (post 7 at 7-2 with Miguel Mena) didn’t stop on the lead in the Blushing K.D. but she pressed in second in the Krantz and tired late to be fifth as the favorite. The 5-year-old daughter of Pastorius (Ger) is 5-for-17 lifetime but has never put wins back-to-back for trainer Al Stall Jr., who will look to win a race named after his late father, who was chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission for 28 years. Stall left the Krantz with more questions than answers, which has been a bit of Dalika’s M.O. throughout her career.

"Look at her form, you think you're going over with a super live horse, and she might not run her race,” Stall said. “I didn't do anything different (since the Krantz). I trained her the way we always do. Gave her a couple of little works. We will try it again.”

West Point Thoroughbreds, Forge Ahead Stables, and Jerry Caroom’s Room to Finish (post 5 at 8-1 with Adam Beschizza) was second to Dalika in the Krantz for trainer Wayne Catalano and rates an upset look. The 6-year-old daughter of Giant Oak is 7-for-21 lifetime and has shown an affinity for the Stall-Wilson, as she’s 10: 5-3-0 over it, with a state-bred stakes win in the Louisiana Ladies Turf two-back.

Silverton Hill’s homebred Pass the Plate (post 3 at 10-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.), was an upset winner of the local Dec. 26 Pago Hop for trainer Paul McGee. The 4-year-old daughter of Temple City was facing elders that day and rallied into a slow pace to move to 4-for-12 lifetime.

Completing the Albert M. Stall Memorial field from the rail out: Myracehorse.com’s His Glory (post 1 at 20-1 with Gabriel Saez), seventh on the main track in her seasonable debut in Oaklawn Park’s Jan. 23 Pippin for trainer Joe Sharp; Pocket Aces Racing’s Temple City Terror (post 2 at 12-1 with Florent Geroux), sixth in the Blushing K.D. for trainer Brendan Walsh; Daniel Investment Holdings’ Mizzen Beau (post 4 at 12-1 with Joe Talamo), winner of the restricted Bison City Stakes on Woodbine’s Tapeta surface in September; Full of Run Racing’s Dreamalildreamofu (post 6 at 20-1 with Colby Hernandez), a 9 1/2-length winner of a local Jan. 23 off-the-turf optional-claimer who is also entered Friday at Oaklawn for Cox; Steven Wilson’s Amazia (post 8 at 12-1 with Declan Carroll), off since running fourth in an optional-claimer at Churchill Sept. 25 for Walsh; La Nora’s Joy Epifora (Arg) (post 10 at 15-1 with James Graham), a Group 1 winner on the dirt in her native Argentina but unraced since running sixth in an optional-claimer at Churchill Sept. 26 for trainer Ignacio Correas; and VinLaur Racing Stables’ Xanthique (post 12 at 12-1 with Mitchell Murrill), fourth in the Krantz for trainer Tom Morley. Trainer Graham Motion indicated Wednesday morning that he would not be shipping Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Tuned (GB).