Tachas Secret defends title in Bradford Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis

It was a battle to the wire between two Indiana powerhouses Monday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin got the edge in the last stride to defend her title in the 28^th running of the $58,400 Bradford Stakes.

Mr Michel, the state’s all-time richest Indiana bred, began from post one for Edgar Diaz, took the early lead from the gate. He was accompanied by Streakin Little Jess and Yovani Flores-Munoz to his outside through the majority of the 400-yard dash.

Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin began from post six and they are known for their fast closing style. Mr Michel got the edge inside as Tachas Secret came flying on the outside, winning by a neck at the wire over Mr Michel. Apollitical Mission and Rolando Pina finished third between horses in a final time of 19.827 seconds.

“She (Tachas Secret) is a closer and this time she did it again,” said trainer Ricardo Martinez. “At first, I thought it would be a tie because it was pretty close, but she got the win. She is a tough racehorse.”

Tachas Secret was the favorite, paying $4.60 for the win. The six-year-old sorrel mare by Habits Secret was bred by trainer Richardo Martinez, who owned and campaigned both her sire and her dam, Sin Tachas Angel, who was a three-time winner during her racing career. The mare was bred by Janet VanBebber, Chief Racing Officer for the American Quarter Horse Association, and is from her standout mare Sin Tacha Perry, a Graded Stakes winner who has produced several racehorses outside of Sin Tachas Angel including Dulce Sin Tacha, a Grade 1 winner of more than $693,000.

Tachas Secret upholds that pedigree proudly as she continues to rack up wins. She is a 14-time winner and has been owned by Duke Racing LLC for the majority of her career. Marla K. Robinson Family Trust is also now a part owner of the mare, who surpassed $580,000 in earnings.

Tachas Secret is a perfect two for two this year and with her latest win, she becomes the third all-time leading Indiana bred Quarter Horse in state history behind Stone Cold Leader ($656,040) and Mr Michel ($767,840 and counting).

“She (Tachas Secret) has a lot of heart and does her business,” said Chris Duke, primary partner of Duke Racing LLC. “I don’t want to say she is getting better, but she is solid and does everything right. This has been a battle between these two (Tachas Secret and Mr Michel) over the past four years and I have a lot of win photos with both horses in them. I’d say it is 50-50 on who wins.”

Duke noted in an earlier interview that eggs were harvested from Tachas Secret this past winter to begin the next step of producing offspring. As a result, part of the superstar Indiana mare was acquired by big breeding operation Marla K. Robinson Family Trust out of Utah. He also noted this will be the final year of racing for Tachas Secret.

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