Pleasanton: Victoryasecret wins photo in Alameda County Fillies & Mares

PLEASANTON, Calif. – Victoryasecret ($6.20), a hard-luck loser in the 2010 running, scored a game victory, winning a three-way photo in the Alameda County Fillies & Mares Stakes on Saturday at the Alameda County Fair.

Victoryasecret set the pace in the 2010 edition, when she was passed in the final 50 yards, losing to Miss Pleasant.

On Saturday, she was challenged early by Sky High Hatty, who had her head in front at the first call. Victoryasecret had a half-length lead through a 46.29-second opening half-mile, which was faster than her early fractions last year.

Even-money favorite Lady Railrider began her challenge on the second turn and had her head in front at the quarter pole and was still a head in front at the eighth pole. But Victoryasecret dug in under Kevin Krigger, refusing to give way. She put her head in front and outfinished the fast-closing City to City and Lady Railrider to win the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.93.

City to City, who rallied four wide into the stretch, closed well for second, beaten a neck. Lady Railrider, running between her two rivals late, was another neck back in third.

“At the three-eighths pole, I saw [Lady Railrider] come by, but it was too early for a move,” Krigger said. “I wasn’t going to punch it and try to open it back up. I knew it was too early.”

Winning trainer Chuck Jenda admitted he was scared when Lady Railrider, who had beaten his mare twice this year, stuck her head in front. Jenda commended Krigger for his patience.

“It worked out,” he said.

Victoryasecret earned $30,750 for her first stakes victory. The 6-year-old mare by Victory Gallop has won 7 of 17 starts while earning $184,190 for the Linden Trust.