James Jackson
Jackson, a Kentucky native, has been around horses his entire life. His father was also a trainer, and James was around the barn from the time he was four years old. They travelled the Ohio and Kentucky circuits, and at 18 James took out his trainer's license. He was the leading trainer in Michigan for over 25 years, winning multiple meets at Detroit Race Course and Hazel Park. In 1995, he was the nation's third leading trainer in number of wins and the top trainer by winning percentage. To date, he has won nearly 2,000 races in his career. He and his wife Laura moved back to Lexington in 1998, where board and breed a few mares on their farm. They bred the stallion Service Stripe as well as the Grade One winning filly Cashier's Dream.
Mike Smith
A native of Roswell, N.M., Mike Smith was introduced to racing by his uncle, who trained horses, and his father, who rode for a short time in Arizona. He started riding races in New Mexico at age 11 and took out his license when he was 16. He was the leading rider in the country in 1994 with 316 wins, and he has won numerous accolades including the Eclipse Award twice, the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award and the Venezia Award. Some of his best mounts include Holy Bull, Lure, Unbridled's Song, Inside Information, Prairie Bayou and Cherokee Run.
Elkhorn Oaks Inc.
James and Martha Fortney conceived Elkhorn Oaks Inc. in 1996 when they purchased a 230-acre farm in Fayette County. The couple resides in Roswell, Georgia where they also own a farm. Their primary business is in the insurance industry, where James has been involved for 35 years. The Elkhorns focus on breeding a select number of mares every year to race and sell. Most notably, they are the breeders of the former Steve Asmussen-trained multiple stakes-winning mare McKinney.
Elkhorn Oaks Inc.
James and Martha Fortney conceived Elkhorn Oaks Inc. in 1996 when they purchased a 230-acre farm in Fayette County. The couple resides in Roswell, Georgia where they also own a farm. Their primary business is in the insurance industry, where James has been involved for 35 years. The Elkhorns focus on breeding a select number of mares every year to race and sell. Most notably, they are the breeders of the former Steve Asmussen-trained multiple stakes-winning mare McKinney.
05.04.2005 - Wednesday Barn Notes 05.03.2005 - Tuesday Barn Notes 05.02.2005 - Monday Barn Notes 05.01.2005 - Sunday Barn Notes 04.30.2005 - Gallant Secret Works 5/8 In 1:04 At Keeneland 03.28.2005 - Dance Away Capote Rolls In Bourbonette BC
GALLANT SECRET came running to get second in the Bourbonette but it's hard to have the same opinion of her as the winner Dance Away Capote. She really raced wide early on in the race that day but as a closer it probably kept her from taking mud. Mike Smith picks up the mount for the Oaks and he should give her a relaxed trip with just enough speed to set up her late run. Probably running down the lane for a minor award as the top company here figures to be long gone and that scenario makes a lot of sense when you consider that 'Capote' cold left her in the Bourbonette and the bulk of the field is five times as tough here. Neat little filly but she's up against it. Relaxed style is her best shot at a minor paycheck.
Gallant Secret is a daughter of 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Menifee, who was a top ten second crop sire of 2004. In 2004 Menifee had four stakes winners and five stakes placed horses from his first crop, and has had stakes winners on both dirt and turf including Taittinger Rose, winner of the Pennsylvania Oak,s and Knox, Regaey Island Stakes victor. Menifee won five of eleven starts, with four seconds. His biggest wins came in the Blue Grass (GI) and the Haskell (GI), and he was undefeated in a pair of starts at two. He is a half-brother to top California stakes horse Desert Wine.
Gallant Secret's female family is especially strong and laiden with horses that possess Classic-distance pedigrees. She is out of the unraced mare Candi's Parfait, who is by 1987 Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba. More importantly, Gallant Secret's second dam, Sorbet, is a half-sister to 1980 Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old Champion filly Genuine Risk. Sorbet's sire, Sauce Boat, was also the broodmare sire of 1994 Preakness and Belmont Stakes victor Tabasco Cat.
Dosage Index: 5.00
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