September Secret Earns Her Emblem

War Emblem was not the first stakes winner for the sire Our Emblem on Saturday.

About an hour before the Preakness was history, September Secret, a 3-year-old daughter of a sire who currently commands a $4,000 stud fee, won the $106,300 Railbird Stakes at seven furlongs as a 4-5 favorite should.

Owned by the Lo Hi Stable and trained by Mike Machowsky, September Secret, a $20,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, drew away in the final eighth of a mile to beat 5-2 second choice Affairs Of State by four lengths in 1:224/5 .

Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, she won for the third time in four starts and is perfect in two races at Hollywood Park. September Secret had broken her maiden in her first race last June 10.

“We had pressure applied early [by 9-2 third choice Fun House] and outside [by 5-1 fourth choice Halo Tyra] around the turn,” Valenzuela said. “Every time [another rider] would chirp, she would just pick it up.

“I thought she ran a very good race even though she stayed on her left lead throughout the stretch. She was getting to the wire all on her own, so I never even hit her. I was really happy with her race. She’s improving every time. Her future looks very good.”

Like the winner, Affairs Of State was making her graded stakes debut after winning her last two for trainer Bruce Headley. She finished 21/2 lengths clear of Fun House, then came Halo Tyra and No Turbulence.

*

There was some consolation for trainer Bobby Frankel on Saturday at Bay Meadows.

Before Medaglia d’Oro flopped badly in the second leg of the Triple Crown, Peu a Peu made a successful U.S. debut for Frankel, winning the $108,700 Yerba Buena Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

Last after six furlongs, the German-bred filly rallied under jockey Russell Baze to defeat 6-5 favorite and defending champion Janet by two lengths in a course-record 2:161/5 for the seldom-run distance of 13/8 miles on turf.

The old mark of 2:162/5 had been set by Golden Doc Ray, who was also trained by Frankel, on Oct. 6, 1979.

*

Much to the surprise of trainer Allen Jerkens, who has pulled quite a few major upsets, Shiny Band won the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap, a Grade II, at Belmont Park.

The longest shot in the field of five at nearly 18-1, the 4-year-old Dixieland Band filly drew away from 7-5 second choice Raging Fever in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by 23/4 lengths in 1:344/5 for the mile.

“Going into the race, I thought beating half the field would be an accomplishment,” Jerkens said.

*

Trainer Niall O’Callaghan’s hot streak continued when Hail The Chief, the 2-1 favorite, rolled to a 31/4-length win over 2-1 second choice Dollar Bill in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup in Chicago. It was the third major stakes win for O’Callaghan in a span of a week.