Challenge


Secretly Fast Surprises In Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge
Secretly Fast (#6), under jockeyLeonardo Gonzalez, battle to victory in the $69,670 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge Sunday afternoon at Emerald Downs.

© Emerald Downs
Secretly Fast Surprises In Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge

AUBURN, WA—AUGUST 17, 2017—At 60-1, Secretly Fast stepped up Sunday afternoon when recovered from early bump to get a head win in a blanket finish to the $69,670 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge Sunday afternoon at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by jockey Leonardo Gonzalez, the 4-year-old son of multiple sakes sire No Secrets Here completed the 440 yards in :22.167 seconds, a 93-speed index with a 10-mph tailwind. The $26,852 winners' purse more than doubled his career bankroll to $38,796.

Trainer Ernesto Olmos saddled the bay gelding for owner Ernesto Ruiz. Bred in Oregon by Donald and Peggy Doyle, from the "blue hen" mare Shirleys Strawfly by Strawfly Special, Secretly Fast has compiled a (14) 3-1-2 record.

Shirleys Strawfly is a multiple stakes producer including two-time champion and Rainbow Derby(G1) winner Strawkins and Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby winner Bf Farm Boss.

Today's victory also earned Secretly Fast a starting spot in the $330,000-Guaranteed Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) on Bank of America Challenge Championship night October 14 at Prairie Meadows. The winner of the Bank of America Championship earns an invite to the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Secretly Fast returned $123 to win, $25 to place and $7.40 to show.

Post-time favorite Air Force Won was moved to second after Lebron 6 was disqualified for interference. Owned-and-trained by Valentine Zamudio, Air Force Won is a multiple stakes winning son of Ketel Won from the Major Rime mare Forced To Win. Hughes Donaldson Horse Company bred the 4-year-old earner of $109,104 in New Mexico. Eswan Flores was riding.

Another stakes winner L Bar D Genuine Red was moved into the show-position after the disqualification. Hillary Durham owns-and-trains the son of Genuine Strawfly from the Ought To Be First mare Be First Rose. Darrel and Linda Sanders bred the 3-year-old in Oregon. He picked up $5,967 for the effort.

Completing the official order of finish were Sorelli, Tic Tac Attack, Flyin Rocks, Jesses Claim Ta Fame, Seperatefromdarest, Surf N Turf Dude, Gone Fast and Lebron 6.