Cyber Secret Upsets Storm Flag Flying In Comely, Oaks Doubtful For Champion
By: Jenny Kellner

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Apr. 18, 2003) - Disappointed? Yes. Shocked? No.

That’s how trainer Shug McGaughey expressed his feelings after heavily favored Storm Flag Flying came in a distant second to front-running Cyber Secret in Friday’s $107,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old debut of last year’s Eclipse award-winning filly, who had not raced since her thrilling victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, turned out to be a tougher spot that most had expected as Cyber Secret went wire-to-wire to win her third straight.

Winner of the Cicada (G3) over the same track on March 22, Cyber Secret bounded into the lead and ticked through fractions of :23.22, :45.35, and 1:10.12 en route to victory in 1:35.97.

Storm Flag Flying, meanwhile, could not make up any ground and finished second, 5 1/2 lengths back.

"I knew we were going to be tough to run down," said Shaun Bridgmohan, aboard the winner. "I kept her in a drive; I was taking no prisoners. Storm Flag Flying is a champion and I wasn't going to wait for her to get even with us."

Following Storm Flag Flying under the wire were Bonay, Glorious Jenna and Xtra Heart.

"Our filly ran a huge race today, and things went our way," said Richard Dutrow, who claimed the daughter of Cyberspace for $65,000 in August for Sanford and Irwin Goldfarb and Team Julep Stable. "I was hoping for something like this, but I wasn't expecting it."

McGaughey was prepared for just such a scenario, however.

"She hadn't run in six months and was going from two [years old] to three," McGaughey said. "They ran in :35 and change going down the backside, and she was hung down inside. She was kind of even from there. We've got something to work with now.

"This was the race I was really nervous about because it had been awhile since she had run and she was catching a filly (Cyber Secret) that has been running good over this track. We just weren't good enough today, but she will be later on. She's been fine. She got a little hot going back to the gate, but that's to be expected. I'm not entirely shocked. Of course, I'm disappointed that she got beat because she has never been beat before. We'll see how she comes out of this."

Added jockey John Velazquez: “She was steady, steady, steady, but she just didn't have that explosive kick. She came back; she looked happy to me. She hadn't been out in so long, but she will improve off of this."

McGaughey all but ruled out a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks.

"We've got a little time, if we point to the Acorn (GI, June 6) and the Nassau County is coming up, too (GII, May 10)," he said. "We might have to change our directions a little bit."

With the winner's purse of $64,740, Cyber Secret extended her bankroll to $244,707 with her fifth victory in eight starts. As for her future, Dutrow was non-commital.

"I think a mile might be her limit; we don't really want to experiment any farther than that," Dutrow said. "I don't know when her next start will be. Maybe we'll look at the Acorn. I would like to keep an eye on the Test (GI) at Saratoga. I would like to have a fresh horse for that one."

Cyber Secret returned $9.00, $2.10 and $2.10 while Storm Flag Flying paid $2.10 and $2.10. Bonay, ridden by Eibar Coa, also returned $2.10.

"This is huge!," said Bridgmohan "It is real nice. She threw her ears up, relaxed real well on the backstretch and just went out and did it nice. It was real nice to beat a champion."

Jenny Kellner is one of the most respected, multi-faceted journalists in New York. She served as the New York Islanders beat writer for the New York Times and has covered Thoroughbred horse racing and professional football for several major publications in the Big Apple and beyond. She is a frequent contributor to a myriad of Thoroughbred racing trade publications and has covered numerous Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups.

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