Secret Circle Filling Shoes Nicely for Baffert in Grade 3 Midnight Lute

 A field of seven is set to contest the six and a half furlong sprint on the main track in a race named for the Bob Baffert trainee who won back-to-back editions of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2007 and 2008.  Fittingly, Baffert not only trains 4/5 favorite Secret Circle in the Midnight Lute Stakes, but the colt is also a two-time Breeders’ Cup winner claiming the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 2013 and Juvenile Sprint in 2011.   Secret Circle nearly won the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November, falling just a half length short to Work All Week.  Secret Circle followed that effort with a second place effort in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct where he stumbled noticeably at the start. 

Secret Circle looks much the best 

Secret Circle has never finished off-the-board in 13 career starts while winning seven times and placing second five times for an impressive bankroll of $2, 424,794.  With Martin Garcia aboard, Secret Circle will break from post number six and should be able to use the outside slot to find a comfortable stalking position.  Distinctiv Passion (4/1) will break to Secret Circle’s immediate outside, and could set the early pace. 

Appealing Tale could land a share 

Appealing Tale (20/1) has always run well over the Santa Anita dirt, and could easily regain his previous form after back to back poor efforts at Churchill Downs and on turf last summer before being sent to the bench for trainer Peter Miller.  Miller hits at 19% with runners returning from similar layoffs and Appealing Tale is working forwardly.