It seemed only fitting that a Virginia-bred captured the first running of the Secretariat Stakes (G2T) held at Colonial Downs. Previously run at Arlington International Racecourse and then conducted at Churchill Downs last year, it seems the 49-year-old race has finally found a new permanent home in the rolling hills of New Kent, Va.
Gigante represented Virginia well Aug. 12, pulling off a 22-1 upset in the $500,000 Secretariat. After a sweeping move around the final bend, the Not This Time colt roared down the lane under Javier Castellano to post his first graded stakes victory.
The Steve Asmussen trainee was no stranger to Colonial Downs, having had more experience over the course than any horse in the field. He had broken his maiden and won a stakes over the track last year as a 2-year-old and was most recently a closing third in the July 15 Edward E. Evans Stakes, a local prep for the Secretariat.
Last of six early, Gigante was unhurried down the backstretch as the pacesetting Mo Stash rattled off fractions of :23.67 and :48.03. As Mo Stash began to give way around the six-furlong marker, Castellano was revving up the engine aboard Gigante, who circled the field and drove home wide down the lane. Putting away a stubborn Major Dude in midstretch, he held off the late-rallying Nagirroc for a neck score.
Gigante ($47.80) completed the mile in 1:35.10 over a firm turf course.
“It seemed to me there was a lot of speed in the race,” said Castellano, who was making his first ride in 10 years at Colonial Downs. “I tried to use my patience early in the race. When the gates opened he broke so well and he put me in good position. … He’s a very professional horse.”
The Secretariat was the ninth graded stakes win of the year for the resurgent Castellano.
Nagirroc was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Silver Knott in third. The latter, a homebred for Godolphin, was boxed in a majority of the race in a troubled trip.
Impressive maiden winner Northern Invader , the narrow race favorite, faded to fifth in his first try against winners.
Campaigned by Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing, Gigante collected his third-lifetime stakes win in the Secretariat and boosted his bankroll to $583,550. He defeated recent KY Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby victor Wadsworth in the May 17 Caesars Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Gigante, purchased by Andrew Dean for $120,000 as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale, is the second stakes winner produced from the Empire Maker mare Summertime Green. The mare’s youngest progeny are a yearling colt by Gun Runner and a weanling Hard Spun filly.
Video: Secretariat S. (G2T)
