Norman Stables Unbeaten Secret Faith won the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Horse Association prize on July 13 at Lone Star Park to give a freshman a stallion Aurelius Maximus his first winner.
Trained by Jayde Gelner, the 2-year-old mare Secret Faith improved her record to two wins from two starts, with prize money of $110,400.
Secret Faith won her stakes debut on Saturday by three-quarters of a length after breaking from seventh place. Her final time over the 5 1/2 furlongs on the fast dirt track was 1:05.77. CJ McMahon rode her in both starts.
Aurelius Maximus, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, entered the stud in 2021 at Red River Farms in Louisiana. His stud fee has remained at $2,000 since his introduction.
Bought for $625,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Aurelius Maximus has won three of his eight starts for Stonestreet Stables owners George Bolton and Peter Leidel. He finished second in the 2020 Fayette Stakes (G2) for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Aurelius Maximus is out of the Grade 3 AP Indy horse race. Queenhalf-sister to Grade 1 winner and sire Brahms (Danzig).
Gelner selected Secret Faith from the 2023 Texas Thoroughbred Stud Association Stallion Sale for $75,000. Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Hume Wornall, Secret Faith is the third winner of the competition from the winning mare Macho Uno. Saint John who has also produced four award winners Midnight Fantasy (Midnight Lute ) and three-time winner Strong promise (Broken Vows) from eight foals.
Videotapes: Texas Futurity (BT) Thoroughbred Horse Association
