Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

MOM'S SECRET, now dropped in class, should prove too good for her eight opponents in the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup feature over 1200 metres for $250,000-$210,000 claiming horses at Caymanas Park today.

The Maurice Crooks-trained four-year-old filly by Dayton Flyer-Sabatini has not visited the winners' enclosure for the better part of a year, but faces her easiest task for some time and will not go down easily from the convenient mark of 52.5kg and leading jockey Omar Walker aboard.

When last raced over 1500 metres on a $350,000 claiming tag on March 9, MOM'S SECRET figured prominently for a long way before fading into fifth place, 12 lengths adrift of the winner, THE LEGACY.

MOM'S SECRET obviously did not enjoy it that far, and now back to sprinting should prove a different proposition, especially with a trophy at stake.

I am expecting her to race in touch of the expected leaders LOVETTA JONES, GALACTUS and FEARLESS BABE, before coming through on entering the straight for the victory.

LOVETTA JONES, who is also down in class, ran poorly over 1400 metres on February 23, but she represents the genuine speed horse in the race and could hold MOM'S SECRET at bay until late in the race. MENTALIST and GALACTUS should complete the superfecta.

Elsewhere on the 11-race programme, old rivals EL PATRON and MY FRIEND LUCY should fight out the finish of the closing Track Price Plus Dig Out Handicap (high claiming) over 1400 metres, in which 14 will run.

Fast-finishing second

When both horses last met over 1200 metres in the race won by CANTARE on February 2, EL PATRON, from the stables of Anthony Nunes, was a fast-finishing second, while the Wayne DaCosta-trained filly MY FRIEND LUCY was third another 1¹/² lengths behind.

Both are pretty consistent and although MY FRIEND LUCY has worked brilliantly for this race, she should play into the hands of EL PATRON (Shane Ellis up). With lots of speed present, MY FRIEND LUCY (Dick Cardenas) will likely be run off the lead by noted front-runners SHE'S SO SPECIAL and NUH VEX, thus setting it up for the stretch-running EL PATRON, who will love the additional furlong.

On a day when the Pick-9 should top $6 million, other firm fancies on the card are FAMILY TRADITION in the second race, EASTWOOD to catch SPARKLE HAVEN in the fifth, VERONICA B in the ninth and CRUCIAL APPEAL in the 10th.